^^I^ACHINGiNSliNIM 

OR. 

\  H  E  G OSPELto  the  QeNTI  LES 


Cibrar;?  of  Che  t:heoloo[ical  ^mimvy 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 
PRESENTED  BY 

Delavan  L.  Pierson 


BV  3415  .D8 
DuBose,  Hampden  C. 
Preaching  in  Sinim 


i^^^^^  x"^^-^;.^^^ 


MAR    5    1952 


Preaching  in  Sinim; 

OR, 

THE  GOSPEL  TO  THE  GENTILES, 

WITH 

HINTS  AND  HELPS  FOR  ADDRESSING  A 
HEATHEN   AUDIENCE. 


BY 

HAMPDEN  C.  DuBOSE,  D.  D., 

Twenty-one  years  a  Missionary  at  Soochow. 

Author  of  "  The  Dragon,  Image  and  Demon  ;  or.  The  Three  Religions 

OF  China  "  (English) ;  *'  The  Street  Chapel  Pulpit  "  (Chinese) ;  "  An 

Illustrated  Life  of  Christ  with  no  Picture  of  our  Lord" 

(Chinese),  Etc.,  Etc. 


"Knowing  therefore  the  terror  of  the  Lord,  we  persuade  men." 
"  The  love  of  Christ  constraineth  us." 

"  For  I  determined  not  to  know  anything  among  you,  save  Jesus  Christ,  and 
him  crucified." 


RICHMOND,  VA.: 

Presbyterian  Committee  of  Publication. 

1893. 


COPYEIGHTED    BT 

J  AS.  K.  Hazen,  Sec'y  of  Presbyterian  Committee  of  Publication. 
1893. 


TO 
MY   BELOVED   BKETHEEN 

OF  THE 
WHO  IN  THEIB  PULPITS 

SO  EAENESTLY  AND  ELOQUENTLY  ADVOCATE 
THE  CAUSE  OF 

This  Little  Teeatise  on  Homtletics  in  China  is 
Affectionately  Insckibed. 


PREFACE. 


TO  present  the  truth  to  those  who  have  never 
heard  the  message  of  salvation  in  such  a  waj 
that  they  may  understand  it,  has  been  the  single 
aim  of  my  ministry  in  the  land  of  Sinim.  Especi- 
ally during  the  preparation  of  the  two  hundred 
Street-Chapel  sermons  in  Chinese  was  my  atten- 
tion called  to  this  subject.  The  thoughts  have 
been  committed  to  writing  with  the  desire  that 
they  might  be  of  service  to  newly-arrived  mission- 
aries, and  aid  them  in  preaching  to  the  heathen 
who  know  not  God.  It  is  also  with  the  hope  that 
some  laborers  in  other  lands  might  read  these  pages 
and  mutatis  imdcmdis  adopt  a  few  of  the  sugges- 
tions to  the  special  wants  of  their  fields. 

As  preaching  is  the  great  work  of  the  Church  of 
God,  no  doubt  many  of  the  friends  of  missions  in 
the  home-lands  desire  to  know  how  those  whom 
they  send  forth  tell  to  the  untutored  pagan  the 
new  story  of  God's  love,  and  we  trust  they  will  find 


b  PREFACE. 

these  chapters  satisfactory.  Our  great  desire  is 
that  the  young  men  in  the  colleges,  whose  atten- 
tion is  now  turned  to  Eastern  lands,  may  by  read- 
ing be  led  to  consecrate  themselves  to  the  work  of 
preaching  in  China.  In  the  eighteen  provinces 
the  four  hundred  millions  need  ten  thousand  mis- 
sionaries immediately.  May  each  one  who  hears 
the  divine  call,  "Whom  shall  I  send?  "  be  enabled 
with  the  apostle  to  exclaim,  "Unto  me,  who  am 
the  least  of  all  saints,  is  this  grace  given,  that  I 
should  preach  among  the  Gentiles  the  unsearch- 
able riches  of  Christ." 

H.  C.  D. 
Southern  Presbyterian  Mission,  SoocTiow,  China. 


Note. — The  MS.  of  Preaching  in  Sinim  was  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  Committee  of  Publication  some  two  years  since,  but 
the  issue  of  the  volume  has,  for  suf&cient  cause,  been  delayed. 


CONTENTS. 

Page 

CHAPTEB    I. 

The  Grandeuk  of  the  Pulpit,        ....         9 

CHAPTER    11. 
Sinim's  Call, 23 

CHAPTER    in. 
Apostolic  Action, 32 

CHAPTER    IV. 

The  Street  Chapel, 49 

CHAPTER    V. 
Itineration  and  Woman's  Work,     .  .         .      62 

CHAPTER    VI. 
The  Spiritual  Kingdom, 71 

CHAPTER    VII. 
The  Ambassador  to  Sinim, 87 

CHAPTER    VIIL 
Literary  Preparation, 97 

CHAPTER    IX. 

The  Style  of  PREAcmNG, 109 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTEE    X. 

Natueal  Theology, 130 

CHAPTER    XL 

The   Light   of   Ethics  and  the    Darkness  of 

Sin, 154 

CHAPTER    XIL 
Preaching  Christ, 169 

CHAPTER    XIIL 

Jesus,  the  Model  Preacher  to  the  Heathen,         .     190 

CHAPTER    XIV. 
Paul  the  Preacher, 207 

CHAPTER    XV. 

The  Work  of  the  Holy  Spirit,      ....     219 

CHAPTER    XVL 

The  Wonders  of  the  Last  Days,  ....     229 

CHAPTER    XVIL 
The  Reaper  and  His  Rewards,       ....     237 


PREACHING  IN  SINIM, 


CHAPTEE  I. 

The  Grandeue  of  the  Pulpit. 

THE  propagation  of  Christianity  by  preaching 
stamps  the  gospel  as  divine.  Eighteen  hun- 
dred years  ago,  before  ships  traversed  the  mighty 
ocean,  an  Israehte,  hving  within  the  narrow  con- 
fines of  Jndea,  brought  up  and  educated  in  an 
uncultivated  part  of  the  land,  and  moving  in  the 
humble  walks  of  life,  conceived  the  grand  idea  of 
making  Adam's  guilty  "race  the  subjects  of  divine 
grace,  and  reclaiming  the  world  from  its  atheism 
and  polytheism,  its  superstition  and  idolatry,  sim- 
ply by  preaching.  Dead  and  buried  at  Jerusa- 
lem, and  now  "alive  forevermore,"  a  message 
was  sent  to  his  scattered  disciples,  "Behold,  he 
goeth  before  you  into  Galilee ;  there  shall  ye  see 
him,"  and  eagerly  they  bent  their  footsteps  to- 
wards the  "mountain  where  Jesus  had  appointed 
them."  There  the  resurrected  Lord  boldly  de- 
clares, "All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven 
and  in  earth,"  an  authority  transcending  all  human 

9 


10  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

claims,  a  majesty  above  all  earthly  glory,  a  do- 
minion embracing  all  in  heaven  and  in  earth, 
"when  he  shall  have  put  down  all  rule  and  all 
authority  and  power:  for  he  must  reign,  till  he 
hath  ]put  all  enemies  under  his  feet."  The  Me- 
diatorial King,  asserting  his  right  to  rule  over 
kings  and  kingdoms,  angels  and  archangels, 
heaven  and  earth,  gave  the  order  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  whole  world  in  his  name,  pledg- 
ing his  omnipotence  and  omniscience  to  insure 
success.  Because  of  this  power  given  unto  him 
he  issues  the  commission,  *'  Go  ye,  therefore, 
and  teach  all  nations,"  to  a  "little  flock,"  for 
the  most  part  unlettered  men,  but  who  for  three 
years  enjoyed  the  instructions  of  their  Lord,  and 
who  soon  were  to  be  "endued  with  power  from 
on  high."  The  command  was  not  to  go  as  Ma- 
homet, with  fire  and  sword,  to  propagate  the  new 
faith,  or  Hke  Shakyamuni,  with  incense,  candles 
and  magical  arts,  but  by  mouth  and  voice  to 
proclaim  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ. 

The  Foolishness  of  Preaching. 
Truly  the   words   of    the   apostle    seem  appro- 
priate, "For   after   that   in   the    wisdom  of    God 
the  world  by  wisdom  knew  not  God,  it   pleased 
God   by    the   foolishness    of    preaching    to    save 


The  Grandeur  of  the  Pulpit.  11 

tliem  that  believe.  For  the  Jews  require  a 
sign,  and  the  Greeks  seek  after  wisdom:  but  we 
preach  Christ  crucified,  unto  the  Jews  a  stum- 
bhng-block,  and  unto  the  Greeks  foolishness; 
but  unto  them  which  are  called,  both  Jews  and 
Greeks,  Christ  the  power  of  God,  and  the  wis- 
dom of  God."  In  English-speaking  countries 
the  pulpit  is  honored;  not  so  in  ancient  Greece 
and  Eome,  or  ancient  and  modern  China.  Fill- 
ing, as  thej  do,  the  universe  mth  gods,  the 
thought  that  there  is  only  one  God  is  too  simple 
a  concept  for  the  profound  mind  of  the  philoso- 
pher. Accustomed  to  their  exalted  views  of  hu- 
man nature,  how  unlearned  are  our  discourses 
about  sin!  With  their  lofty  ideas  concerning 
merit,  how  puerile  seem  our  words  about  "filthy 
rags"!  All  their  lives  admiring  altars  adorned 
"with  fruits  and  flowers  and  fragrant  with  incense, 
liow  revolting  the  teaching  of  salvation  by  faith 
in  a  crucified  Messiah!  While  they  require  God 
to  furnish  them  with  some  visible  sign  of  his 
existence,  how  empty  seem  our  talks  about  an 
unseen  Jehovah!  Then,  to  attempt  the  overthrow 
of  ancient  religious  institutions  simply  by  preach- 
ing, appears  so  ignoble!  Yea,  to  christianize 
three  hundred  and  ninety  millions  by  the  oral 
communication  of   divine  truth   seems  the  height 


12  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

of  folly.  And  wlien  we  speak  of  conversion  by 
the  supernatural  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
they  consider  us  as  demented  enthusiasts,  and 
cry  as  Festus,  "Thou  art  beside  thyself."  We 
are  to  see  our  "calling"  as  preachers  of  the 
gospel;  "God  hath  chosen  the  foolish  things  of 
the  world  to  confound  the  wise;  and  God  hath 
chosen  the  weak  things  of  the  world  to  con- 
found the  things  which  are  mighty;  and  base 
things  of  the  world,  and  things  which  are  de- 
spised, hath  God  chosen,  yea,  and  things  which 
are  not,  to  bring  to  nought  things  that  are." 

When  Christ  was  about  to  call  the  dead  to- 
life,  three  of  the  evangelists  record  the  fact  that 
"they  laughed  him  to  scorn,"  so  the  whole  plan: 
of  awakening  nations  sleeping  the  sleep  of  death, 
by  the  voice  of  living  men  trumpeting  the  gospel, 
is  in  contrast  with  human  schemes.  When  C?esar's 
dominion  extended  over  Europe  and  Western 
Asia,  for  the  man  crucified  by  Eoman  authority 
to  claim  "  all  power,"  and  with  no  arm  of  flesh- 
to  befriend  his  cause  to  send  a  scattered  band 
of  believers  to  go  forth  conquering  and  to  con- 
quer by  the  word  of  his  power,  seemed  the 
height  of  folly;  but  as  victory  crowned  their 
banner,  so,  nineteen  hundred  years  after,  may  his 
messengers    bear    witness     "unto    the    uttermost 


The  Grandeur  of  the  Pulpit.  13 

part  of  the   earth,"    and  rely  upon   the   presence 
of  the  Master  to  give  the  word  success. 

The  Glory  of  the  Messenger. 
Paul  speaks  of  the  "  messengers  of  the  churches 
and  of  the  glory  of  Christ."  Those  who  "  labor 
in  word  and  doctrine "  are  the  messengers  or 
ministers  of  the  glory  of  Christ.  The  grandeur  of 
the  calling  is  summed  up  in  the  word  "glory." 
Prom  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  Revelation  the 
highest  conceptions  of  things,  divine  and  eternal, 
are  given  to  us  under  the  term  glory.  The  mes- 
senger is  sent  by  one  whose  glory  filleth  the 
heavens,  and  of  whom  when  on  earth  it  was  said, 
*'We  beheld  his  glory,  the  glory  as  of  the  only 
begotten  of  the  Father."  The  missionary  is  to 
declare  the  glory  of  God  among  a  people  who 
glorify  him  not.  He  is  the  minister  of  a  covenant 
of  glory.  "  But  if  the  ministration  of  death, 
written  and  engraven  in  stones  was  glorious,  so 
that  the  children  of  Israel  could  not  steadfastly 
behold  the  face  of  Moses  for  the  glory  of  his 
countenance,  which  glory  was  to  be  done  away, 
how  shall  not  the  ministration  of  the  Spirit  be 
rather  glorious  ?  For  if  the  ministry  of  condemna- 
tion be  glory,  much  more  doth  the  ministration  of 
righteousness  excel  in  glory.  For  even  that  which 
2 


14  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

was  made  glorious  had  no  glory  in  this  resjDect,, 
by  reason  of  the  glory  that  excelleth.  For  if  that 
which  is  done  away  is  glorious,  much  more  that 
which  remaineth  is  glorious."  The  minister  is  to 
preach  of  him  who  was  "  received  up  into  glory," 
and  who,  after  he  has  guided  us  by  his  counsel,, 
shall  afterwards  receive  us  to  glory. 

An  Ambassador  for  Christ. 
We  are  sent  by  Christ ;  we  are  equipped  by 
Christ ;  we  come  for  Christ ;  we  are  ambassadors 
for  Christ.  We  do  not  receive  our  credentials 
from  St.  James  or  Washington,  but  are  ministers 
plenipotentiary  from  the  court  of  Heaven,  sent 
with  full  authority  from  Jehovah  to  make  a  treaty 
with  his  rebellious  subjects-  We  are  to  say,. 
"  Come  now  and  let  us  reason  together,  saith  the 
Lord."  The  man  of  God  stands  as  a  herald  to 
make  a  proclamation  of  divine  amnesty ;  as  a 
preacher  he  teaches  all  things  whatsoever  Christ 
has  commanded ;  as  a  minister  he  serves  the 
people  even  as  the  Son  of  man  came  not  to  be 
ministered  unto  but  to  minister  ;  as  a  shepherd  he 
feeds  the  flock  over  which  the  Holy  Ghost  has 
made  him  an  overseer ;  as  an  elder  he  rules  in 
the  house  of  God ;  as  a  star  in  the  right  hand  of 
Him  who  walks  in  the  midst  of  the  golden  candle- 
sticks he  shines  with  peculiar  lustre. 


The  Grandeur  of  the  Pulpit.  15 

The  Minister  of  Eeconciliation. 
The  apostle  to  the  Gentiles  distinctly  sets  forth 
the  great  business  of  the  missionary :  "  God,  who 
hath  reconciled  us  to  himself  by  Jesus  Christ,  and 
hath  given  to  us  the  ministry  of  reconciliation ;  to- 
wit,  that  God  was  in  Christ,  reconciling  the  world 
unto  himself,  not  imputing  their  tresj)asses  unto 
them ;  and  hath  committed  unto  us  the  word  of 
reconciUation.  Now,  then,  we  are  ambassadors 
for  Christ,  as  though  God  did  beseech  you  by  us  ; 
we  pray  you  in  Christ's  stead,  be  ye  reconciled  to 
God."  The  reconciled  sinner  becomes  the  minister 
of  reconciUation,  and  speaks  the  word  of  recon- 
ciUation. Just  as  Phinehas  stood  between  the 
Uving  and  the  dead,  so,  in  a  figure^  we  act  as 
intermediaries,  setting  forth  the  reconciUng  love 
of  the  unseen  God,  and  coming  to  men  with  the 
message, — we  gently  beseech  you;  we  earnestly 
pray  you ;  we  humbly  beg  you — "  Be  ye  reconciled." 

Not  Given  to  Angels. 
To  proclaim  his  gospel  the  Lord  chose  men  and 
not  angels.  This  is  one  of  the  mysteries  which 
men  may  desire  to  look  into.  The  angels  are  pure ; 
to  them  men  would  seem  very  ^dle.  They  dwell 
in  Ught  inaccessible  and  full  of  glory  ;  this  world 
would  be  very  dark  to  them.     Their  appearance  in 


16  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

the  pulpit  would  dazzle  the  eyes,  and  it  would 
be  hard  to  restrain  men  from  acts  of  worshij). 
Thej  have  never  been  tempted  and  could  have  no 
sympathy  mth  the  Son  of  man,  or  the  sons  of 
men,  as  they  pass  through  fiery  trials.  Having 
never  sinned  they  know  little  of  the  redemption 
that  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  have  never  exj)erienced 
the  preciousness  of  forgiveness  and  the  joys  of 
conversion.  It  is  given  to  man,  who  is  conscious 
of  his  own  weakness  and  shortcomings,  to  speak 
io  his  brother  about  the  way  by  which  he  has 
been  led  to  love  and  serve  the  Lord.  Ministers 
not  only  preach  the  written  word,  but  they  preach 
the  word  which  has  filtered  through  the  inner  life 
of  their  spiritual  consciousness,  and  thus  are 
^'  manifestly  declared  to  be  the  epistle  of  Christ," 
"  written  not  with  ink,  but  with  the  Spirit  of  the 
living  God." 

The  Kegions  Beyond. 
Paul  rejoiced  that  ha  was  called  'Ho  preach  the 
gospel  in  the  regions  beyond,  and  not  to  boast  in 
another  man's  line  of  things  made  ready  to  hand." 
"  So  that  from  Jerusalem,  and  round  about  lUyri- 
-cum,  I  have  fully  preached  the  gospel  of  Christ. 
Tea,  so  have  I  strived  to  preach  the  gospel,  not 
where  Christ  was  named,  lest  I  should  build  upon 
another  man's  foundation ;  but  as  it  is  written,  To 


The  Geandeue  of  the  Pulpit.  17 

whom  lie  was  not  spoken  of,  they  shall  see ;  and 
they  that  have  not  heard  shall  understand."  In 
the  home-land,  with  a  pious  ancestry,  pious  parents, 
pious  famihes,  pious  friends,  pious  Sabbath-school 
teachers,  pious  pastors,  pious  churches,  the  air  we 
breathe  is  "holiness  to  the  Lord."  Under  such 
circumstances,  the  infliience  of  a  minister  upon  a 
new  convert  is  reduced  to  the  minimum,  for  many 
agencies  (humanly  speaking)  have  a  share  in  bring- 
ing a  soul  to  Christ.  In  the  "field"  which  is  "the 
world,"  the  minister  has  few  valuable  colaborers  in 
the  work.  Here  it  is  the  freshness  of  the  salvation 
morn,  with  no  gospel-hardened  sinners  to  sit  un- 
der the  sound  of  the  glad  tidings,  the  dewdrops  of 
grace  glistening  in  the  rising  sun,  and  the  joyful 
notes  of  sacred  song  for  the  first  time  wafted  on 
the  bracing  air.  There  is  a  true  romance  of  mis- 
sions, the  pioneer  religious  hfe  in  hoary  lands  of 
superstition,  where,  as  our  Lord  could  say,  "Lift 
up  your  eyes,  and  look  on  the  fields" — and  what  a 
sight! — "for  they  are  white  already  to  the  har- 
vest," hke  an  Alabama  cotton-field  with  its  silken 
bolls  so  large  and  white,  looking  Hke  a  fall  of 
snow  in  the  autumn. 

The  Joy  of  PEEACHiNa. 
The  apostle  said  that  he  was  "a  debtor  both  to 
the  Greeks  and  to  the  barbarians."     There  is  a 


18  Pkeaching  in  Sinim. 

real  pleasure  in  paying  onr  debts.  Y\e  often 
speak  of  tlie  duty  of  obedience ;  there  is  no  keener 
joy  in  the  Christian  life  than  obedience  to  God. 
In  a  heathen  land  we  experience  the  preciousness 
of  a  nearness  to  God ;  the  darkness  around  makes 
the  light  in  the  soul  more  appreciated.  We  talk 
of  luxury ;  but  is  there  any  luxury  like  that  of  do- 
ing good?  Philanthropy!  the  noblest  form  of  ori- 
ental luxury.  It  is  pleasant  to  carry  the  news  of 
pardon  to  the  prisoner  in  his  chains;  to  teU  "the 
old,  old  story"  here,  where  it  is  the  new,  new 
theme.  There  is  no  possibility  of  its  becoming  a 
wearisome  task.  Hundreds  of  times  the  question 
has  been  put,  "My  friend,  have  you  heard  any- 
thing about  the  gospel?"  "No."  And  the  a-b-c 
of  Christianity  has  been  taught  with  as  much  ex- 
hilarating dehght  as  if  it  were  the  first  lesson  to 
the  first  scholar.  Sixteen  days  across  the  Pacific, 
on  our  return  home,  at  nightfall  the  splendid 
steamship,  77ie  City  of  ToMo,  stopped,  and  the 
passengers  rushed  on  deck  to  see  what  was  the 
matter.  Directly  a  flash  of  hght  was  seen  from 
the  Farral  Islands,  and,  as  the  hght  revolved,  an- 
other flash,  and  soon  another;  the  whistle  blew, 
the  engines  started,  and  soon  we  were  within  the 
Golden  Gate.  This  was  the  first  light  from  our 
native  shore,  and  oh!  what  delight  to  all  on  board! 


The  Gkandeue  of  the  Pulpit.  19 

So  it  is  joy  without  measure  to  tell  for  the  first 
time  the  news  of  salvation  to  a  benighted  pagan. 

Christian  experience  varies  as  do  the  hneaments 
of  our  faces,  which  not  only  differ  in  one  age,  but 
one  generation  is  unlike  another.  Some  find  their 
sweetest  moments  in  the  closet;  others,  in  the 
prayer-meeting;  many  consider  their  hours  of 
reading  the  Scriptures  the  happiest;  the  sweet 
psalmists  experience  holy  joy  when  singing  the 
songs  of  Zion ;  while  perhaps  to  a  few  the  hour  of 
preaching — the  mind  kindled  to  a  white  heat,  and 
the  heart  directly  under  the  influences  of  the  Holy 
Spirit — brings  the  most  vivid  realization  of  God's 
presence,  when  he  makes  his  goodness  pass  before 
his  servant,  and  places  him  in  a  cleft  of  the  rock, 
while  his  glory  passeth  by. 

Sweet  hour  to  preach,  sweet  hour  to  preach, 
May  I  thy  grace  and  glory  reach, 
When  on  Mount  Carmel's  lofty  height, 
I  view  false  gods  just  in  my  sight. 
And  call  to  men,  Turn  ye,  and  live  ; 
Here  is  the  way,  God's  Son  believe ; 
And  shout,  while  I  can  daily  teach, 
Welcome,  welcome,  sweet  hour  to  preach! 

When  leaving  the  chapel,  and  the  footsteps  are 
turned  homeward,  the  messenger's  feet  fly  swiftly 
along,  the  mind  absorbed  in  celestial  themes,  the 


20  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

thought  suddenly  occurs:  "Well,  I  am  really  here, 
walking  on  the  earth." 

What   a   beautiful   couplet    in    the   Ifissionary 

Psalmody  : 

'  *  Go  ye,  therefore,  and  teach  all  nations ; 
And,  lo!  I  am  with  you  alway." 

The  presence  of  the  Master  is  specially  vouch- 
safed at  the  very  moment  when  we  teach  the  peo- 
ple to  observe  his  commandments.  If  the  chief 
attraction  of  heaven  is  to  be  "forever  with  the 
Lord,"  what  on  earth  is  better  than  the  mission- 
field,  with  its  daily  preaching,  and  daily  walks  to 
Emmaus  ? 

The  Kesponsibility. 
The  apostolical  evangehstic  motto  is :  "  Knowing, 
therefore,  the  terror  of  the  Lord,  we  persuade 
men."  Paul  feared  lest,  when  he  had  preached  to 
others,  he  himself  should  be  a  castaway.  As  the 
soul  is  of  more  value  than  the  body,  so  the  re- 
sponsibility resting  upon  winners  of  souls  is  a 
thousand-fold  more  weighty  than  that  which  lies 
upon  those  who  deal  with  things  temporal.  The 
preacher  is  a  watchman  upon  the  towers  of  Zion. 
"  If,  when  he  seeth  the  sword  come  upon  the  land, 
he  blow  the  trumpet,  and  warn  the  people,  then 
whosoever  heareth  the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  and 


The  Geandeue  of  the  Pulpit.  21 

taketh  not  warning,  if  tlie  sword  cometh  and  taketh 
him  away,  his  blood  shall  be  upon  his  own  head. 
Bnt  he  that  taketh  warning  shall  dehver  his  soul. 
But  if  the  watchman  see  the  sword  come,  and 
blow  not  the  trumpet,  and  the  people  be  not 
warned;  if  the  sword  come,  and  take  any  person 
away  from  them,  he  is  taken  away  in  his  iniquity ; 
but  the  blood  will  I  require  at  the  watchman's 
hands.  So  thou,  O  son  of  man,  I  have  set  thee  a 
watchman  unto  the  house  of  Israel ;  therefore  thou 
shalt  hear  the  word  at  my  mouth,  and  warn  them 
from  me.  When  I  say  to  the  wicked,  O  wicked 
man,  thou  shalt  surely  die ;  if  thou  dost  not  speak 
to  warn  the  wicked  from  his  way,  that  wicked  man 
shall  die  in  his  iniquity;  but  his  blood  will  I  re- 
quire at  thine  hand.  Nevertheless,  if  thou  warn 
the  wicked  of  his  way,  to  turn  him  from  it;  if  he 
do  not  turn  from  his  way,  he  shall  die  in  his  in- 
iquity ;  but  thou  hast  dehvered  thy  soul." 

"  Let  Sion's  -watclimen  all  awake, 
And  take  the  alarm  they  give ; 
Now  let  them  from  the  mouth  of  God 
Their  solemn  charge  receive. 

' '  They  watch  for  souls,  for  which  the  Lord 
Did  heavenly  bliss  forego ; 
For  souls  which  must  forever  live 
In  raptures  or  in  woe. 


22  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

' '  All  to  the  great  tribunal  haste, 
The  account  to  render  there ; 
And  shouldst  thou  strictly  mark  our  faults, 
Lord,  how  should  we  appear  ?  " 


CHAPTEE   II. 

SmiM's  Call. 

"  I'TNTO  you,  0  men,  I  call ;  and  my  voice  is  to 
^  tlie  sons  of  men."  It  is  a  personal,  direct, 
pressing  summons,  and  requires  immediate  atten- 
tion. "  How  then  shall  they  call  on  him  of 
whom  they  have  not  heard?  and  how  shall  they 
hear  without  a  preacher  ?  " 

It  is  the  call  of  a  great  multitude,  even  of 
390,000,000-  The  vast  wealth  of  WilKam  H. 
Yanderbilt  was  computed  at  his  death :  the  dollars, 
if  piled  up,  how  high  the  column  would  reach ; 
if  spread  out,  how  many  square  miles  the  silver 
would  cover.  Here  there  is  a  man  for  a  coin, 
and  a  hundred  milhon  over! 

It  is  a  wide  call:  "Behold  I  set  before  you 
an  open  door."  A  half-century  since  the  Middle 
Kingdom  was  compassed  on  every  side  by  the 
great  wall  of  seclusion.  Thirty  years  ago  for- 
eigners were  Kmited  to  the  five  open  ports.  The 
number  has  since  increased  to  twenty.  Now,  by 
the  toleration  clause  in  the  treaties,  missionaries 
have  the  privilege  of  preaching  in  every  part  of 
the  empire,  and  by  the  interpretation  the  Man- 
darins put  upon  the  treaty,  they  may  rent  houses 

23 


24  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

and  live  in  the  interior,  and  the  officials  grant 
them  special  protection.  While  the  merchants 
are  confined  to  residence  in  twenty  localities,  the 
ministers  of  the  gospel  are  free  to  enter  "the 
door  great  and  effectual,"  which  has  been  opened 
to  the  thousand  walled  cities,  the  one  hundred 
thousand  market  towns,  and  the  million  villages, 
and  everywhere  proclaim  salvation. 

It  is  a  philantliTopic  call.  Says  the  royal 
preacher,  "Withhold  not  good  from  them  to  whom 
it  is  due,  when  it  is  in  the  power  of  thine  hand  to 
do  it."  Is  not  the  gospel  good?  Is  it  not  the 
supreme  good?  Is  it  not  due  the  heathen?  Are 
we  not  debtors  to  the  barbarians?  Is  it  not  in 
our  power  to  give  it?  Does  not  the  church 
send  forth  every  man  that  offers  ?  Shall  we  then 
withhold  the  bread  of  hfe  from  the  famishing? 

It  is  a  pointed  call.  It  does  not  generally 
come  as  a  light  from  heaven,  as  in  the  case 
of  Paul,  or  as  a  view  of  the  throne  as  with 
Isaiah,  or  in  audible  words  as  with  the  child 
Samuel,  but  as  a  still  small  voice,  "What  doest 
thou  here  ? "  here  in  a  gospel  land,  abounding  in 
Bibles  and  preachers;  here,  where  flows  the 
water  of  life  so  freely;  here,  where  whosoever 
will  may  be  saved? 

It  is  a   Macedonian    call.      The    apostle's  bio- 


Sinim's  Call.  25- 

grapher  says,  they  "  were  forbidden  of  tlie  Holy 
Ghost  to  preach  the  word  in  Asia,"  probably 
because  so  much  work  had  been  done  there. 
"  They  assayed  to  go  into  Bithynia  :  but  the  Spirit 
suffered  them  not."  At  Troas  "  A  vision  appeared 
to  Paul  in  the  night :  there  stood  a  man  of 
Macedonia,  and  prayed  him,  saying.  Come  over 
into  Macedonia,  and  help  us.  And  after  he  had 
seen  the  vision,  immediately  we  endeavoured  to 
go  into  Macedonia,  assuredly  gathering  that  the 
Lord  had  called  us  for  to  preach  the  gospel 
unto  them." 

It  is  a  call  which  requires  obedience :  "  What- 
soever he  saith  unto  you  do  it."  Does  the 
Master  say,  "Go  ye  into  all  the  world"?  then 
the  presumption  is,  that  the  field  of  labor  assigned 
the  one  who  is  called  to  preach  is  beyond  the 
limits  of  his  own  country,  and  before  he  con- 
cludes to  remain  he  should  seek  a  clear  call  to 
stay  at  home. 

It  is  a  divine  call :  "  Pray  ye  therefore  the 
Lord  of  the  harvest,  that  he  will  send  forth 
laborers  into  his  harvest."  It  seems  that  the 
disciples  did  pray,  for  immediately  follows  the 
roU  of  the  twelve  whom  Jesus  "  called."  The 
evangehsts  give  the  simple  narrative  how  Christ 
called  his  disciples  one  by  one.  He  said,  "  Fol- 
3 


26  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

low  Me."  He  is  the  great  Captain  of  the  sacra- 
mental host  that  goes  forth  to  the  peoples 
which  ''sit  in  darkness  and  in  the  region  and 
shadow  of  death."  "  And  no  man  taketh  this 
honour  unto  himself  but  he  that  is  called  of 
God." 

It  is  a  call  from  the  Holy  Ghost.  The  anoint- 
ing of  the  Spirit  is  an  essential  prerequisite. 
At  the  first  missionary  meeting  at  Antioch,  when 
the  apostles  and  elders  were  assembled  together, 
"As  they  ministered  unto  the  Lord  and  fasted, 
the  Holy  Spirit  said,  Separate  me  Barnabas  and 
Saul  for  the  work  whereunto  I  have  called  them." 
When  the  designation  to  the  sacred  office  comes 
from  the  third  person  of  the  adorable  Trinity  it 
may  be  said,  "For  he  is  a  chosen  vessel  unto  me, 
to  bear  my  name  before  the  Gentiles  and  kings 
and  the  children  of  Israel." 

The  call  is  both  external  and  internal.  It  is 
external  in  the  leadings  of  Providence,  which 
open  the  way  to  heathen  nations  and  which 
remove  the  obstacles  from  the  path  of  the  one 
appointed.  It  is  external  in  the  approbation  of 
the  church  and  in  the  laying  on  of  hands,  by 
which  the  candidate  is  set  apart  to  the  sacred 
office.  It  is  internal  in  that  the  man  by  prayer 
and  the  study  of  God's  word   feels   prompted  to 


Sinim's  Call.  27 

go  and  teach  the  benighted  nations.  As  an  aged 
minister  said  to  me  when  I  was  at  the  Theological 
Seminary,  "If  the  Lord  puts  it  into  your  heart  to 
go,  why  go."  When  the  party  who  feels  the  inter- 
nal call  receives  the  approbation  of  God's  people, 
there  is  evidence  that  he  is  called  of  God. 

It  is  a  caU  for  volunteers  :  "And  I  heard  the 
voice  of  the  Lord,  saying,  Whom  shall  I  send, 
who  will  go  for  us  ?  Then  said  I,  Here  am  I ; 
send  me."  Our  Master  was  an  illustrious  example 
of  a  living  sacrifice.  "  And  he  saw  that  there 
was  no  man,  and  wondered  that  there  was  no 
intercessor  :  therefore  his  arm  brought  salvation 
unto  him."  "Wherefore,  when  he  cometh  into  the 
world,  he  saith.  Sacrifice  and  offering  thou 
wouldst  not,  but  a  body  hast  thou  prepared  me. 
Then  said  I,  Lo,  I  come  (in  the  volume  of  the 
book  it  is  written  of  me)  to  do  thy  will,  O  God." 
No  church  forcibly  sends  a  man  to  the  mission 
field  ;  he  must  volunteer. 

It  is  a  cjloioing  call.  A  yearning  to  lead  the 
most  useful  life  during  our  few  years  upon 
the  earth,  a  hungering  and  thirsting  to  preach 
he  word  to  the  heathen,  a  burning  of  the  heart, 
within  as  we  walk  with  Jesus  and  hear  his  last 
great  command.  Into  it  enter  all  the  elements 
of    the    higher    Christian    hfe;    love    for    Jesus, 


28  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

compassion  for  the  helpless,  zeal  for  the  Master's 
glory,  obedience  to  his  commands,  and  joy  in 
carrying  the  word  to  earth's  remotest  end. 

It  is  a  growhig  call.  When  I  was  taken  under 
the  care  of  Presbytery  a  venerable  preacher  asked, 
"Do  you  feel,  'Yea,  woe  is  me  if  I  preach  not 
the  gospel'?"  The  answer  was,  "I  do  not,"  but 
three  years  afterwards  the  meaning  of  the  words 
was  a  matter  of  personal  experience.  When  the 
sinner  is  called  to  Christ  he  does  not  care  to 
come  till  he  feels  his  need,  so  no  one  desires  to 
come  to  the  foreign  field  till  he  reaUzes  the  needs 
of  the  heathen.  This  is  developed  by  the  study 
of  what  the  Bible  says  about  idolatry,  of  the 
promises  in  reference  to  the  kingdom,  and  of  the 
missionary  journeys  of  the  apostles.  The  study 
of  geography  and  of  the  comparative  civilizations 
and  the  religions  of  the  heathen  awaken  the 
slumbering  call.  Missionary  literature  opens  a 
wide  field  for  investigation,  and  leads  the  inquirer 
to  personal  consecration.  Were  there  a  large 
heathen  city  just  across  the  river,  would  not 
many  desire  to  labor  within  its  walls,  and  is  not 
time  and  distance  annihilated  by  the  great  ships 
which  now  traverse  the  ocean?  As  we  strive  to 
grow  in  every  Christian  grace,  let  the  young  see 
they  neglect  not  to  cultivate  the  call  to  Foreign 


Sinim's  Call.  29 

Missions,  chiefly  by  prayer  and  communion  with 
God.  All  learning  is  useful,  especially  as  the 
opportunities  for  mental  improvement  in  the 
field  are  hmited,  but  as  a  long  literary  cur- 
riculum is  necessary  in  learning  the  language,  any 
man  of  ordinary  ability,  after  a  brief  theological 
and  thorough  Bibhcal  course,  may,  under  the 
blessing  of  God,  become  eminently  useful.  The 
qualifications  of  a  Sabbath-school  teacher  are 
those  especially  needed  by  missionaries  who  teach 
the  pagan. 

The  lines  written  by  Kev.  Dr.  Nathan  Brown 
find  an  echo  in  many  a  heart.  The  only  time  it 
was  the  writer's  privilege  to  meet  him  was  at 
a  social  prayer-meeting  at  his  homo,  and  tlie 
stranger  invited  to  speak  mentioned  how  widely 
"The  Missionary's  Call"  had  been  copied,  and 
placed  it  beside  Bishop  Heber's 

♦'From  Greenland's  Icy  Mountains," 

as  a  part  of  the  missionary  heritage.  Dr.  Brown 
was  requested  by  one  present  to  give  the  history 
of  the  poem,  and  he  said  it  was  the  first  time  he 
had  ever  been  asked  to  do  so.  Written  at  the 
age  of  nineteen,  when  he  was  at  college,  it  was 
sent  to  a  newspaper,  but  hearing  nothing  from 
it  he  was  discouraged  as  to  further  attempts  to 


30  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

reacli  tlie  lieatiien  field,  and  went  to  the  printer's 
trade.  Afterwards  lie  saw  it  copied  in  a  Prince- 
ton magazine,  and  this  held  out  some  hope.  Af- 
ter a  lapse  of  time  it  was  printed  in  the  Baptist 
papers,  and  (though  he  did  not  say  so),  the  So- 
ciety sought  him  out.  He  lived  3x19  years  to 
to  preach  in  Assam  and  Japan. 

*'  My  soul  is  not  at  rest:  there  comes  a  strange 
And  secret  whisper  to  my  spirit,  like 
A  dream  at  night,  which  tells  me  I  am  on 
Enchanted  ground.     Why  live  I  here  ?     The  vows 
Of  God  are  on  me,  and  I  may  not  stop 
To  play  with  shadows,  or  pluck  earthly  flowers, 
Till  I  my  work  have  done  and  rendered  up 
Account.     The  voice  of  my  departed  Lord, 
*  Go  teach  all  nations, '  from  the  Eastern  world 
Comes  on  the  night  air  and  awakes  my  ear. 

"  And  I  will  go.     I  may  no  longer  doubt 
To  give  up  friends,  and  home,  and  idle  hopes, 
And  every  tender  tie  that  binds  my  heart 
To  thee,  my  country.     "Why  should  I  regard 
Earth's  little  store  of  borrowed  sweets  ? 

Never  was  it  his  design 
Who  placed  me  here  that  I  should  live  at  ease 
Or  drink  at  jDleasure's  fountain.     Henceforth,  then, 
It  matters  not  if  storm  or  sunshine  be 
My  earthly  lot,  bitter  or  sweet  my  cup : 
I  only  pray,  God  fit  me  for  the  work ; 
God  make  me  holy  and  my  spirit  nerve 


Sinim's  Call.  31 

For  the  stern  hour  of  strife.     Let  me  but  know 

There  is  an  arm  unseen  that  holds  me  up, 

An  eye  that  kindly  watches  all  my  path, 

Till  I  my  weary  pilgrimage  have  done  ; 

Let  me  but  know  I  have  a  friend  that  waits 

To  welcome  me  to  glory,  and  I  joy 

To  tread  the  dark  and  death  fraught  wilderness." 


CHAPTEE    III. 
Apostolic  Action. 

THE  eloquent  Atlienian,  when  asked,  "What  is 
the  chief  element  in  oratory,  answered,  "Ac- 
tion." "And  what  is  the  second?"  "Action." 
"And  what  the  third  ?  "  "Action."  The  same  might 
be  said  of  apostolic  evangehzation.  There  is  need 
of  Action,  Action,  Action.  Our  Master  calls  atten- 
tion to  the  wisdom  of  the  children  of  this  world, 
and  the  energy  they  display  in  their  generation. 
For  instance,  go  into  a  native  store  in  this  city, 
and  see  the  prints,  a  hundred  different  patterns, 
prepared  in  Europe  to  suit  the  Chinese  eye  and 
taste.  How  the  consuls  at  the  foreign  ports  watch 
trade,  and  keep  their  respective  governments  in- 
formed of  every  available  oj)ening!  In  all  depart- 
ments of  business  throughout  the  world  the  most 
intense  activity  is  displayed.  This  is  the  example 
which  our  Lord  sets  before  the  children  of  light 
in  the  evangehzation  of  the  nations. 

We  do  not  find  Christ  sitting  in  the  temple  at 
Jerusalem,  or  building  a  tabernacle  in  the  metropo- 
Hs,  and  summoning  aU  Judea  and  the  region  round 

32 


Apostolic  Action.  33 

about  Jordan  to  come  and  sit  at  his  feet,  for  it  is 
recorded,  *'He  went  about  doing  good."  After  he 
had  preached  in  the  synagogue  at  Capernaum,  the 
people  "sought  him,  and  came  unto  him,  and 
stayed  him,  that  he  should  not  depart  from  them. 
And  he  said  unto  them,  I  must  preach  the  king- 
dom of  God  to  other  cities  also,  for  therefore  am  I 
sent."  Constant  activity,  unceasing  labors,  and 
unremitting  exertions  marked  the  daily  hf  e  of  our 
Lord ;  so,  if  we  are  hereafter  to  share  in  his  glory, 
we  must  noY>^  share  in  his  toil.  Blessed  privilege, 
to  be  co-workers  with  God! 

The  apostle  to  the  Gentiles,  in  speaking  of  his 
work,  could  say:  "I  labored  more  abundantly  than 
they  all."  Doctor  Charles  Hodge  says :  "  This  may 
mean  either  more  than  any  one  of  the  apostles,  or 
more  than  all  of  them  put  together.  The  latter  is 
more  in  keeping  with  the  tone  of  the  passage.  It 
serves  more  to  exalt  the  grace  of  God;  and  it  is 
historically  true,  if  the  New  Testament  record  is  to 
be  our  guide."  In  the  great  work  of  converting 
the  world  the  labors  of  the  apostle  are  placed  be- 
fore us  in  a  formidable  array.  Are  we  followers 
of  Paul,  as  he  followed  Christ?  It  is  not  a  safe 
method  to  count  the  laborers,  numbering  one  by 
one ;  for  though  all  are  members  of  the  same  body, 
yet  all  are  not  of  the  same  relative  importance,  as 


34  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

what  is  the  utiHty  of  the  little  finger,  compared  to 
that  of  the  eye  ? 

A  fearful  responsibility  rests  upon  the  foreign 
evangelist  because  of  his  independent  position. 
He  has  no  congregation  upon  whom  he  is  financi- 
ally dependent,  and  who  make  vigorous  demands 
on  the  pulpit  and  the  pastorate.  The  home  so- 
ciety is  across  the  sea,  and  takes  only  a  general 
oversight  of  the  work.  He  preaches  as  often  as 
he  desires,  and  itinerates  whenever  he  chooses,  so 
his  stay  in  the  city  or  country  is  according  to  his 
own  will.  As  in  ancient  Israel,  "every  man  doeth 
as  is  right  in  his  own  eyes."  Truly,  our  Lord  has 
gone  on  a  long  journey,  and  the  preparation  for 
his  return  is  the  great  object  before  the  missionary 
in  all  his  labors. 

The  field  is  the  world,  but  China  is  specially  the 
field  for  preaching.  By  treaty-right,  we  may  go 
from  province  to  province,  and  from  city  to  city, 
and  proclaim  salvation ;  and  here  almost  is  fulfilled 
the  vision  of  John :  ''And  I  saw  another  angel  fly 
in  the  midst  of  heaven,  having  the  everlasting  gos- 
pel to  preach  unto  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth." 
Throughout  Christendom  it  is  considered  that  the 
minister's  duties  fall  chiefly  on  Sunday,  but  here 
it  is  different,  for  every  day  is  a  day  of  preaching, 
and,  freed  from  heavy  pastoral  labor,  after  three 


Apostolic  Action.  35 

years  of  language  study  one  is  as  free  as  the  birds 
of  the  air  to  make  known  the  glad  tidings  of  sal- 
vation. 

There  is  a  pleasant  variety  in  evangelistic  meth- 
ods. In  one  sense,  continued  preaching  is  a  wea- 
riness to  the  flesh,  as  spiritual  labor  is  so  much 
harder  than  manual.  On  the  other  hand,  it  may 
be  considered  light  w^ork.  To  be  out  of  doors,  free 
from  books  and  teachers,  going  from  place  to  place, 
taking  active  exercise,  and  breathing  the  pure  air 
of  heaven,  is  wonderfully  invigorating  to  both  the 
physical  and  spiritual  man.  In  the  chapels,  when 
too  tired  to  preach  longer,  we  may  sit  down  on  a 
bench  and  engage  in  conversation;  or,  if  we  be- 
come weary  at  this,  we  may  pass  from  shop  to 
shop  when,  in  the  unoccupied  portions  of  the  day, 
the  dozen  clerks  leaning  upon  the  counter  are  glad 
to  have  some  one  to  converse  with.  Or  to  vary 
the  scene,  we  may  step  into  a  tea-shop,  sip  a  cup 
of  tea,  and  converse  with  the  ten,  twenty,  or  thirty 
who  gather  around.  If  the  voice  is  tired,  it  may 
be  rested  by  colportage.  If  suffering  with  bron- 
chitis, we  may  pass  from  house  to  house,  distrib- 
ute leaflets,  or  mount  posters  and  gospel  proclama- 
tions on  the  walls.  When  the  city  work  becomes 
monotonous,  the  country,  with  its  green  fields,  is 
open,  and  the  courteous  peasants  will  bring  out  a 


36  PKEACHINa  IN  SiNIM. 

bench,  offer  a  cup  of  tea,  and  press  the  visitor  to 
stay  and  preach. 

One  element  in  successful  missionary  work  is 
jpunctucdity .  When  the  clock  points  the  hour, 
let  the  man  of  God  go  forth  to  his  daily  task. 
There  are  many  interruptions  incidental  to  mis- 
sionary  life, — Chinese  visitors  who  call,  converts 
coming  for  instruction,  native  ministers  who  wish 
to  consult,  the  general  oversight  of  the  mission  to 
be  taken, — but  if  on  some  day  there  is  only  one 
and  one-half  hours,  and  it  takes  one-half  hour  to 
walk  to  the  chapel  and  one-half  hour  to  return, 
let  the  other  thirty  minutes  be  given  to  pubhc 
preaching.  Punctuality  in  a  minister  is  a  cardinal 
Christian  virtue. 

Another  element  is  saving  time,  "Eedeeming 
the  time "  is  the  Scripture  phraseology.  Much 
of  our  time  is,  as  it  were,  locked  up  in  the  musty 
store-rooms  of  a  pawn  shop.  It  must  be  redeemed. 
"  Slowly,  slowly  go,"  is  the  Chinaman's  motto  ; 
"Diligent  in  business"  is  the  Christian's  rule  of 
life.  The  apostle  says,  "And  we  desire  that 
every  one  of  you  do  shew  the  same  dihgence 
.  .  .  unto  the  end,  that  ye  be  not  slothful." 
Itinerating  in  this  well-watered  region,  by  voyag- 
ing at  night  we  may  redeem  the  days  for  labor. 
The   preciousness   of  time   must   be  ever  promi- 


Apostolic  Action.  37 

nently  and  intently  before  the  child  of  God. 
Dr.  Bacckus,  of  Baltimore,  was  noted  for  his 
efficient  pastorate.  It  is  said  that  if  he  had  ten 
minutes  to  spare  before  an  appointment  he  would 
step  out  and  call  on  a  parishioner. 

A  third  element  is  to  make  a  hiisiness  of 
preaching,  just  as  the  merchant  at  his  store,  or 
the  lawyer  at  his  office.  And  here  is  the  great 
besetting  sin  to  which  the  preacher  of  the  gospel 
is  exposed  ;  that  is,  to  do  this  spiritual  work  in 
a  professional  way;  still,  according  to  the  parable 
of  the  two  sons,  it  is  better  to  go  in  a  wrong 
spirit  than  not  to  go  at  all,  for  in  the  act  of 
obedience  we  are  in  the  hue  of  receiving  the 
blessing.  The  claims  of  flesh  and  blood — mail 
day,  family  cares,  times  of  social  intercourse — 
must  not  interfere  with  our  one  great  object  of 
being  preachers  of  righteousness.  It  must  not  be 
light  work  ;  it  must  be  our  life-work.  The  hand 
of  the  diligent  in  spiritual  as  well  as  temporal 
things,  maketh  rich.  "  Seest  thou  a  man  diHgent 
in  his  business,"  says  the  royal  preacher,  "he 
shall  stand  before  kings."  The  missionary  must 
be  a  hard-working  man.  There  is  nothing  that 
makes  more  impression  upon  a  Mongolian,  travel- 
ing in  the  "  old  stage  coach,"  than  activity  and 
enterprise. 
4 


38  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

Along  with  this,  the  man  of  God  has  a  holy 
horror  of  the  sin  of  laziness.  Is  it  not  to  be 
classed  with  idolatry?  There  sits  the  idol  with 
the  hoUovr  of  his  feet  turned  heavenward,  but 
not  so  the  heaven-sent  messenger.  Paul  was 
called  to  preach ;  but  the  call  was  so  glorious  he 
lay  flat  upon  his  back.  What  a  picture  of  a  man 
appalled  at  the  magnitude  of  the  task  of  bringing 
a  nation  to  Christ.  The  command  was  given, 
"Rise,  and  stand  upon  thy  feet."  Then  was 
delivered  unto  him  the  great  missionary  com- 
mission: "I  have  appeared  unto  thee  for  this 
purpose,  to  make  thee  a  minister  and  a  witness 
both  of  these  things  which  thou  hast  seen,  and  of 
those  things  in  the  which  I  will  appear  unto  thee; 
delivering  thee  from  the  people,  and  from  the 
Gentiles,  unto  whom  now  I  send  thee,  to  open 
their  eyes,  and  to  turn  them  from  darkness  to 
Hght,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God,  that 
they  may  receive  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  inheri- 
tance among  them  which  are  sanctified  by  faith 
that  is  in  me."  Paul  repeated  the  charge  to 
his  son  Timothy  :  "  I  charge  thee  therefore  before 
God,  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  shall  judge 
the  quick  and  the  dead  at  his  appearing  and  his 
kingdom ;  preach  the  word  ;  be  instant  in  season, 
out  of   season  ;   reprove,  rebuke,  exhort  with   all 


Apostolic  Action.  39 

long-suffering  and  doctrine Watch  thou 

in  all  things,  endure  afflictions,  do  the  work  of  an 
evangelist,  make  full  proof  of  thy  ministry." 

In  the  fifth  place,  we  must,  as  far  as  in  us  lies, 
keep  our  bodies  in  trim  for  preaching,  and  do 
nothing  that  would  interfere  with  our  duties  as 
speakers.  The  athlete  looking  forward  to  the 
games  keeps  his  limbs  in  training.  If  study 
unfits  one  for  the  great  aim  of  hfe,  the  time  out 
of  the  pulpit  must  be  spent  in  buoyant  recrea- 
tion, enjoyable  reading,  or  pleasant  visiting.  The 
health  and  vigor  of  the  body  is  a  prime  factor 
in  arduous  labors.  The  work  reacts  on  the  man, 
and  there  is  no  surer  panacea  for  headache  or 
languor  than  an  attack  on  idolatry. 

Prime  attention  must  also  be  given  to  keeping 
the  mind  bright  by  sharpening  the  axe  on  some 
hterary  grindstone.  In  the  interior,  separated 
from  the  great  Western  world,  dullness  is  apt  to 
creep  over  our  intellects,  and  unfit  us  for  our 
avocation.  Though  in  the  old  country,  we  are 
in  a  new  world  of  intellectual  enterprise,  so  there 
is  no  necessity  for  mental  torpor.  It  should  be 
our  effort  to  consecrate  every  talent  to  the  Mas- 
ter's service. 

Again,  the  gospel  messenger  must  not  spend 
his  time  in  his  study.     It  would  be  Hke  a  courier 


40  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

from  the  capital  loitering  at  an  inn.  Dr.  Knowl- 
ton,  of  precious  memory,  says:  "The  command 
of  Christ,  and  the  nature  and  necessities  of  the 
work,  demand  that  missionaries  maintain  the 
campaign  in  the  field  against  the  enemy,  and 
not  spend  their  time  in  more  congenial  pursuits 
than  the  rugged  contact  with  the  heathen  in 
preaching.  The  great  Captain  has  given  them 
strict  orders  to  preach  his  gospel,  and  they  are 
not  at  liberty  to  neglect  this  work  for  any  other. 
What  would  we  say  of  an  ambassador  to  a  for- 
eign court,  who,  instead  of  devoting  himself  ex- 
clusively to  the  interest  of  the  government  by 
which  he  is  commissioned,  should  spend  his  time 
in  hterary  pursuits,  or  devote  himself  to  trade,  or 
entangle  himself  in  the  pohtical  affairs  of  the 
government  to  which  he  is  sent?  And  how  can 
a  missionary  answer  to  him  who  gave  him  his 
commission,  if  he  does  not  devote  himself  to  the 
exphcit  business  that  was  entrusted  to  him  ? " 
We  are  to  mingle  with  the  people,  become 
friendly  with  them  and  know  them  intimately. 
Of  our  Lord  it  was  said,  "The  Word  was  made 
flesh  and  dwelt  among  us."  During  the  snows 
of  winter  and  the  summer  suns  we  may  bring 
our  barks  into  port  and  mend  our  tattered  sails. 
"As  we  have,  therefore,  opportunity  let  us  do 
good  unto  all  men." 


Apostolic  Action.  41 

Literary  work  seems  to  open  a  wide  field  of  use- 
fulness, and  some  may  think:  "Write  a  volume, 
and  it  will  be  read  by  millions ;  preaching  is  evan- 
escent, but  a  book  endures  for  generations!" 
There  is  no  more  fallacious  form  of  reasoning. 
Only  a  small  percentage  of  the  people  can  read. 
The  eyes  of  those  who  do  read  the  written  page 
often  merely  run  down  the  hues  of  characters 
without  thinking  of  the  meaning.  It  must,  too,  be 
remembered  that  spoken  words  live  for  centuries 
in  their  effects  upon  the  minds  and  hearts  of  men. 
Also,  only  those  books  which  are  evolved  from 
the  energizing  power  of  an  active  ministry  are 
likely  to  be  practical  and  useful.  Yet  we  are  not 
to  underrate  the  labors  of  the  great  students  who 
have  prepared  the  text-books  in  language  and  lit- 
erature, by  the  use  of  which  we  have  been  quali- 
fied for  our  great  work.  The  church  needs  a  few 
of  her  mighty  men  in  the  quiet  retirement  of  their 
studies,  with  time  for  meditation,  to  prepare  the 
great  books  which  mould  the  minds  of  men.  By 
their  writings  they  preach  to  many.  Division 
commanders  are  often  at  their  headquarters  in  the 
rear,  removed  from  the  scene  of  actual  conflict, 
and  from  thence  control  the  movements  of  their 
troops.  The  major-generals  direct  the  forces,  but 
the  rank  and  file  of  the  missionary  corps  must  go 


42  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

into  the  enemy's  camp,  and  wield  the  sword  of  the 
SjDirit. 

The  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith  is  so  pre- 
cious to  the  church  that  the  Christian  is  prone  to 
forget  that  faith  must  be  shown  by  works,  as  the 
Apostle  James  so  pointedly  correlates  the  centrifu- 
gal and  centripetal  forces  of  salvation:  "But  wilt 
thou  know,  O  vain  man,  that  faith  without  works 
is  dead?  Was  not  Abraham,  our  father,  justified 
by  works,  when  he  had  offered  Isaac,  his  son,  upon 
the  altar?  Seest  thou  how  faith  wrought  with  his 
works,  and  by  works  was  faith  made  perfect?  And 
the  Scripture  was  fulfilled  which  saith,  Abraham  be- 
Heved  God,  and  it  was  imputed  unto  him  for  right- 
eousness." It  is  by  zeal  in  preaching  that  there  is 
proof  of  faith  in  the  Lord  who  gave  the  command 
to  preach.  To  the  railway,  steam  without  the  en- 
gine evaporates,  and  the  engine  without  steam  is 
motionless;  so  to  the  minister,  preaching  without 
faith  is  powerless,  and  faith  without  preaching  is 
vacuity.  Of  our  Saviour  it  was  said,  he  "was  clad 
with  zeal  as  a  cloak";  "for  the  zeal  of  thine  house 
hath  eaten  me  up";  "my  zeal  hath  consumed  me." 
It  was  not  simply  a  fervent,  glowing  zeal,  but  a 
consuming  zeal.  The  foreign  evangelist  is  "to  give 
himself  wholly  to  prayer  and  the  ministry  of  the 
word."     Along   with  his  prayers,  faith,   fastings, 


Apostolic  Action.  43 

and  reliance  upon  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
must  be  the  active  work  of  the  body  to  prove  that 
the  spiritual  soul  is  alive.  Do  we  read  the  Hfe  of 
Christ,  and  behold  his  mighty  deeds  of  power  and 
love?  Our  Lord  himself  said:  "And  greater  works 
than  these  shall  he  do;"  referring,  perhaps,  not  so 
much  to  his  miracles  as  to  the  disciples  uniting 
with  him  in  seeking  and  saving  the  lost,  and  in 
proclaiming  the  truth,  not  in  one  little  country, 
but  throughout  the  earth.  In  the  parable  of  the 
body  and  its  members,  the  apostle  charges  believ- 
ers not  to  judge  of  the  usefulness  of  others:  "But 
now  hath  God  set  the  members  every  one  of  them 
in  the  body,  as  it  hath  pleased  him.  .  .  .  Nay, 
much  more  those  members  of  the  body,  which 
seem  to  be  more  feeble,  are  necessary." 

Our  labors  must  be  unremitting.  Before  Jeri- 
cho, "The  seven  priests  bearing  seven  trumpets 
of  rams'  horns  before  the  ark  of  the  Lord  went  on 
continually,  and  blew  wdth  the  trumpets."  This 
seemed  a  very  foolish  method.  Why  not  take  a 
few  thousand  braves  and  make  a  breach  in  the 
wall?  The  priests  blew,  and  blew,  and  blew. 
The  Bible  puts  the  trumpet  as  the  symbol  of 
the  ministry,  and  the  blowing  of  the  trumpet  as 
the  preaching  of  the  word.  Our  Saviour  s  in- 
structions are    two-fold;    that   the    disciple    have 


44:  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

girded  loins  and  burning  lights.  How  important 
to  the  Chinese  garments  is  the  girdle,  and  to 
Elijah  I.  and  Elijah  II.  a  "leathern  girdle"  was 
appropriate.  The  minister's  light  must  be  burn- 
ing and  shining,  as  John's  camp-fire  in  the  wil- 
derness of  Judea.  It  has  been  said  of  a  vener- 
able lady,  whose  bow  still  abides  in  strength  and 
whose  active  labors  have  been  richly  blessed, 
that  her  life  is  summed  up  in  the  word  "  Go." 
President  Lincoln  wittily  said  of  a  famous  Gen- 
eral, "He  is  an  admirable  engineer,  but  he  seems 
to  have  a  special  talent  for  a  statio7iary  engine.'" 
Before  General  Grant,  whom  success  seemed 
always  to  attend,  took  command  of  the  army  of 
the  Potomac,  and  when  Stonewall  Jackson,  the 
God-fearing  and  Sabbath-keeping  chieftain,  was 
making  his  rapid  marches,  and,  by  his  sudden  ad- 
vances, placing  a  double  line  of  pickets  in  front 
and  attacking  the  rear,  with  13,000  successively  de- 
feating three  Generals  whose  combined  armies 
(which  were  never  suffered  to  combine)  numbered 
60,000,  General  Halleck,  under  date  of  October 
7,  1862,  wrote:  "There  is  a  decided  want  of  legs 
in  our  army."  May  the  multitudes  who  dwell 
within  the  Avails  of  China,  like  the  people  of 
Jehovah  at  the  gates  of  Jerusalem,  who  watched 
the  messengers  of  mercy  descending  the  Mount  of 


Apostolic  Action.  45 

Olives,  exclaim:  *'How  beautiful  are  the  feet  of 
them  that  preach  the  gospel  of  peace,  and  bring 
glad  tidings  of  good  things."  The  heralds  of 
salvation  must  be  Alexanders  in  their  wide 
marches,  and  Napoleons  in  their  impetuous 
onslaughts. 

The  Saviour's  command  is  to  bear  much  fruit. 
A  tree  is  known  by  its  fruits,  and  is  prized  for 
its  fine  large  crop.  How,  some  years,  the  vines 
which  twine  around  our  verandahs  are  borne 
down  by  the  heavy  clusters ;  not  one  grape  here  and 
another  there,  but,  as  the  Chinese  say,  "Globes 
of  fruit."  Let  the  preach  tree  bear  much  fruit. 
"So,"  says  Jesus,  "shall  ye  be  my  disciples." 
Trees  of  the  Lord's  planting,  whose  branches 
bend  beneath  the  weight  of  the  rich  golden  fruit. 
Our  Master  says,  "Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy 
God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul, 
and  with  all  thy  mind,  and  with  all  thy  strength." 
Also,  "If  ye  love  me,  keep  my  commandments." 
My  command  is  to  preach,  therefore  preach 
"with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and 
with  all  thy  mind,  and  with  all  thy  strength." 
When  past  fourscore,  it  is  recorded  of  John 
Wesley,  "Every  day  his  voice  is  still  heard  some- 
where sounding  the  alarm  at  five  o'clock  in  the 
morning.      Nearly    every    evening    the   sun    goes 


46  PREACHINa  IN  SiNIM. 

down  upon  liim  in  some  other  place.  He  has 
chapels  scattered  over  the  whole  country,  but  he 
still,  almost  daily,  proclaims  his  message  in  the 
fields  and  on  the  highways."  On  the  1st  of 
January,  1790,  when  eighty-five,  he  wrote,  "I 
am  now  an  old  man,  decayed  from  head  to  foot. 
However,  blessed  be  God,  I  do  not  slack  my 
labor.  I  can  preach  still."  In  the  midst  of 
formalism  and  church  inertia  in  England  arose 
this  great  spiritual  man,  who  preached  several 
times  each  day,  and  success  marked  his  labors. 
Amidst  the  deadness  of  Chinese  systems  mis- 
sionaries have  the  golden  opportunity  to  show 
forth  the  glory  of  preaching.  Just  as  a  native 
said  of  a  faithful  Wesley  an  in  this  land,  "When- 
ever you  meet  him  he  talks  about  Jesus." 

"Take  the  name  of  Jesus  with  you, 
Child  of  sorrow  and  of  woe  ; 
It  will  joy  aud  comfort  give  you. 
Take  it  then  where'er  you  go. 
Precious  name,  O  how  sweet, 
Hope  of  earth  and  joy  of  heaven." 

There  are  so  few  men  we  must  multiply  our- 
selves. It  is  not  X  +  y  but  (x  -|-  y)^.  A  division 
of  labor  is  often  spoken  of ;  that  is  not  the 
question  ;  it  is  a  multipUcation  of  labor.  The 
Chinese   rotate    their    crops,  but    it   is   not    corn 


Apostolic  Action.  47 

this  year  and  cotton  the  next,  but  rice  and  wheat, 
and  beans  and  vegetables,  from  the  same  land 
within  one  twelvemonth.  The  more  one  does,  the 
more  he  has  the  abihty  to  do  ;  the  strength  in- 
creases with  the  increasing  endeavors.  Just  as 
the  muscles  improve  by  training,  so  the  missionary 
athlete,  year  by  year,  has  more  facility  in  his 
work.  The  heart  expands,  the  feet  grow  nimble, 
the  hands  more  skilled,  the  voice  better  trained. 
"In  the  morning  sow  thy  seed,  and  in  the  evening 
withhold  not  thy  hand ;  for  thou  knowest  not 
whether  shall  prosper,  either  this  or  that,  or 
whether  they  both  shall  be  alike  good."  In  the 
parable  of  the  pounds,  to  each  servant  was  given 
one  pound.  Said  one,  "Lord,  thy  pound  hath 
gained  ten  pounds,"  or  1000  per  cent !  He  was 
appointed  to  a  prefecture. 

A  special  blessing  is  promised  to  those  who, 
like  Caleb,  wholly  follow  the  Lord ;  and  the  young 
warrior  who  could  say,  "  Let  us  go  up  and  occupy 
the  land,  for  we  are  abundantly  able  to  overcome 
it,"  could  at  fourscore,  when  coming  to  claim  the 
promise,  exclaim,  "As  my  strength  was  then,  so  is 
my  strength  now,  for  war,  both  to  go  out  and 
come  in."  To  his  eye  a  walled  city  was  no  more 
than  a  mud  fort.  Look  at  the  fifteen  hundred 
missionaries! — twelve  to  one  of  the  disciples  in  the 


48  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

upper  chamber  at  Jerusalem.  "  To  them  is  ac- 
corded the  high  honor  of  making  known  the 
gospel  to  the  millions."  The  salvation  army 
comes  not  with  drum,  and  fife,  and  gong,  but 
ivith  the  sweet  notes  of  invitation,  "  Come  unto 
me  all  ye  that  labor."  The  true  crusaders  are 
leading  the  consecrated  host  through  the  narrow 
passes  of  Asia  to  the  Jerusalem  above. 

'*  But  this  I  say,  brethren,  the  time  is  short." 
"We  may  have  ten  springs  in  which  to  sow  our 
seed,  or  twenty  summers  when  Apollos  may 
pump  water  on  the  fields,  or  thirty  autumns  to 
gather  the  golden  grain,  or,  by  reason  of  strength, 
forty  winters  preparing  for  those  who  are  to  enter 
into  our  labors,  yet  our  hves  are  but  as  a  shadow 
which  fleeth  away.  "Whatsoever  thy  hand 
findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might ;  for  there  is 
no  work,  nor  device,  nor  knowledge,  nor  wisdom 
in  the  grave,  whither  thou  goest." 

"Work  for  the  night  is  coming, 

Work  through  the  morning  hours, 
Work  while  the  dew  is  sparkhng, 

Work  'mid  springing  flowers  ; 
Work  when  the  day  grows  brighter, 

Work  in  the  glowing  sun, 
Work,  for  the  night  is  coming, 

When  man's  work  is  done." 


CHAPTER    IV. 

The  Street  Chapel. 

rilHE  Saviour's  ascension  command  is  not  limited 
J-  to  clime  or  place.  In  Japan  theatres  are  of- 
ten rented  by  the  native  Christians,  and  one  thou- 
sand Japanese  will  patiently  sit,  their  pipe  and 
rice  beside  them,  for  five  or  six  houi's,  and  listen 
to  several  speakers  advocate  the  claims  of  Chris- 
tianity. Also  "preaching-places"  are  estabhshed, 
and  become  the  nuclei  of  churches.  In  India, 
pubhc  preaching  is  held  in  the .  bazars  of  the  great 
cities.  In  China,  the  principal  place  is  the  street 
chapel.  The  hall  for  preaching  may  be  described 
as  a  part  of  the  street  cut  off  and  enclosed,  or  a 
combination  of  the  church  and  the  highroad  of 
travel.  This  is  a  biblical  institution  :  "And  Paul 
dwelt  two  whole  years  in  his  own  hired  house,  and 
received  all  that  came  unto  him,  preaching  the 
kingdom  of  God,  and  teaching  those  things  which 
concern  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  with  all  confidence, 
no  man  forbidding  him." 

Its  advantages  are  :  1,  It  secures  punctuahty  on 
the  part  of  the  minister.     2,  It  becomes  known  as 
a  central  place  for  preaching,  and  by  its  perma- 
5  49 


] 


50  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

nency  influences  a  people  who  are  influenced  by 
perennial  institutions.  "A  city  that  is  set  on  a 
hill  cannot  be  hid."  3,  The  hearers  are  impressed 
with  the  sanctity  of  God's  house.  4,  When  seated, 
they  will  listen  twice  as  long  as  if  standing  on  the 
street.  5,  Inquirers  may  quietly  sit  and  ask  ques- 
tions. 6,  There  are  opportunities  for  prayer:  "Is 
it  not  written,  My  house  shall  be  called  of  all  na- 
tions the  house  of  prayer?"  7,  It  is  the  hub 
around  which  the  wheel  of  itineration  revolves. 

Chapels  should  be  situated  on  the  most  promi- 
nent streets  of  the  city.  Eents  may  be  high,  and 
lots  sold  by  the  front  foot,  but  these  items  should 
not  enter  into  the  calculation.  If  the  missionary's 
salary  is  $1,000,  why  not  give  him  $500  more  as 
rent  for  a  chapel,  if  it  vnll  place  his  influence  at 
the  maximum?  It  is  the  price  of  the  horse  and 
the  cart  together,  not  taken  separately.  Again,  if 
the  moneys  spent  in  travelling,  in  the  three  years 
at  the  language,  and  in  furloughs,  be  considered, 
the  church  is  at  great  expense  in  maintaining  the 
missionary,  and  it  should  be  used  in  the  most  ef- 
fective way  possible.  Another  thought  is,  that  the 
man  sacrifices  his  hfe  for  the  gospel's  sake,  and  he 
ought  to  be  so  situated  that  the  highest  good  might 
be  accompHshed.  Three  thousand  or  five  thou- 
sand dollars  spent  on  a  lot  would  be  a  permanent 


The  Steeet  Chapel.  51 

investment  for  the  mission  till  tlie  land  was  evan- 
gelized. As  a  practical  matter,  good  houses  may 
be  rented  for  $100  a  year,  or  one  purchased  for 
$1,000,  in  most  of  our  cities.  The  street  chapel  is 
for  the  heathen;  churches  where  Christians  as- 
semble for  worship  on  the  Sabbath  should  be  in 
quiet  localities,  and  ought  to  be  built  with  Chinese 
silver.  To  the  millions  we  should  cry,  "Buy  wine 
and  milk,  without  money  and  without  price,"  on 
the  first  streets  of  the  metropolis. 

The  building,  constructed  in  the  style  of  native 
halls,  should  be  large,  and  accessible  to  the  sun- 
light, so  that  it  may  be  well  ventilated  when  there 
is  no  service.  To  secure  large  audiences,  stoves 
in  winter,  s^nd.  jpimkas  in  summer,  may  be  success- 
fully introduced.  The  doors  should  be  large,  or 
the  entire  front  removed,  as  Tvith  the  native  shops. 
It  disarms  prejudice,  and  the  Chinese  like  it.  I 
once  preached  in  a  large  chapel  on  a  very  good 
street  to  an  audience  of  five.  The  door  was  small, 
and  there  was  a  screen-door  within,  and  the  pass- 
ers-by never  noticed  that  there  was  preaching.  A 
few  masons  to  knock  out  the  end  of  the  building 
would  have  remedied  the  evil.  The  benches 
should  be  four  or  five  feet  apart.  A  Chinaman 
takes  his  seat  on  the  end,  and  as,  in  winter,  he  has 
on  many  layers  of  cotton-padded  clothing,  he  ef- 


I 


52  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

fectually  bars  tlie  way;  and  so,  if  tlie  forms  are 
crowded,  there  will  be  only  one  man  to  a  pew.  It 
was  remarked  by  a  friend:  ''I  cannot  get  tlie  peo- 
ple to  sit  in  my  cliapel;"  and  the  suggestion  was 
made,  "Remove  two  out  of  three  of  your  benches." 
The  hint  was  taken,  and  no  difficulty  was  after- 
wards experienced  on  this  point.  It  is  of  the  ut- 
most importance  to  require  the  people  to  be  seated, 
as  it  increases  vastly  their  respect  for  the  house  of 
God. 

The  invitation  is  to  "all  that  pass  by."  The 
open  doors,  like  unto  the  gates  of  the  celestial  city, 
which  "shall  not  be  shut  at  all  by  day,"  bespeak  a 
welcome.  The  voice  of  song  attracts  attention. 
Twenty  or  thirty  are  present.  Prayer  is  offered. 
Men  know  they  have  not  come  to  a  theatre,  but  to 
a  solemn  assembly.  The  speaker  commences,  and 
all  eyes  are  fixed  upon  him.  He  warms  up  in  his 
subject,  and  soon  the  vacant  sittings  are  filled,  and 
fifty  or  a  hundred  are  giving  ear  to  the  word.  The 
attention  is  unwearied.  Here  sits  the  countryman, 
resting  on  his  journey ;  the  artisan,  who  wishes  to 
know  something  of  this  strange  cult;  the  clerk, 
who  likes  to  hear  the  foreigner  speak  his  own  lan- 
guage ;  the  merchant  from  a  distant  province ;  the 
passing  traveller,  with  only  five  minutes  to  sit,  and 
the  mandarin's  assistant,  wishing  to  while  away  an 


The  Steeet  Chapel.  53 

hour;  tlie  coolie  in  liis  sandals,  and  tlie  gentleman 
robed  in  satin;  the  old  woman  who  goes  to  the 
temple  to  worship,  and  the  scholar,  full  of  pride 
and  prejudice,  armed  against  the  teachers  and 
teachings  of  Christianity.  Some  are  attracted  by 
the  foreigner's  appearance,  many  come  to  listen  to 
illustrations  and  allegories,  and  others,  simply  be- 
cause they  have  nothing  better  to  do.  Some  listen 
as  to  a  lecture  on  a  Hterary  theme,  others  seek  for 
something  better  than  the  rehgions  they  possess. 

The  Chinese,  though  an  industrious  people, 
are  not  busy  like  their  Western  antipodes,  so 
they  have  time  to  watch  a  sparrow  on  the  roof, 
or  to  assemble,  like  the  sons  of  Heth  at  the  cave 
of  Machpelah,  to  witness  an  important  transac- 
tion, so  they  have  leisure  to  come  to  the  chapels 
during  the  day.  The  congregation  is  composed 
of  a  succession  of  those  who  come  in  and  pass 
out.  At  the  sound  of  the  mandarin's  gong,  or 
the  music  preceding  a  bride  or  a  coffin,  a  large 
number  suddenly  go  to  the  door,  but  a  hymn 
fills  the  vacated  seats,  and  the  foreigner  and  na- 
tive, each  taking  turns  two  or  three  times,  have 
addressed  the  two  hundred  or  five  hundred  who 
have  entered  the  sacred  courts.  Some  days  the 
audience  is  restless,  as  at  the  feasts,  but  on  others, 
they  sit  as  if  riveted  to  the  spot,  and  give  the  most 


54  PkE ACHING  IN  SiNIM. 

serious  attention.  At  times  the  speaker  is  electri- 
fied by  the  fixedness  of  the  gaze  of  a  whole  con- 
gregation. There  is  no  sphere  where  tact  is  so 
much  needed  as  when  the  audience  is  fluctu- 
ating. Sometimes,  when  the  preacher  reaches 
"fifthly,"  those  who  heard  the  first  point  have 
retired  and  others  have  taken  their  places.  The 
mode  of  address  is  not  so  much  one  long  ser- 
mon as  a  series  of  short  ones,  resembling  on 
a  narrow-guage  railway  a  train  of  little  coaches 
coupled  together. 

The  street  chapel  is  the  missionary's  fort,  where 
he  throws  hot  shot  and  shell  into  the  enemy's 
camp;  the  citadel,  where  he  defends  the  truth; 
the  school,  where  he  teaches  the  A,  B,  C  of 
heaven;  the  home,  where  he  loves  to  dwell;  the 
altar,  upon  which  he  is  laid  a  hving  sacrifice; 
the  church,  in  which  he  worships;  the  throne,  on 
which  he  rules  the  minds  and  hearts  of  the  hea- 
then; the  happy  land,  where  he  enjoys  com- 
munion with  his  Maker;  the  hill  of  Zion,  where 
he  sings  sweet  songs;  the  gate  of  heaven,  where 
the  angels  ascend  and  descend.  There  are  spe- 
cial promises  to  these  earthly  tabernacles  filled 
with  the  glory  of  Jehovah :  "  Thy  way,  O  God, 
is  in  the  sanctuary."  Where  is  it  that  revivals 
have  occurred    and  souls  have  been    converted? 


The  Street  Chapel.  55 

Is  not  God's  way  of  salvation  in  tlie  sanctuary  ? 
The  Bible  constantly  mentions  how  specially 
Jehovah  delights  in  the  families  of  his  people, 
but  the  sweet  Psalmist  says:  "The  Lord  loveth 
the  gates  of  Zion  more  than  all  the  dwellings  of 
Jacob."  "And  of  Zion  it  shall  be  said,  This  and 
that  man  was  born  in  her :  and  the  highest  him- 
self shall  estabhsh  her.  The  Lord  shall  count, 
when  he  writeth  up  his  people,  that  this  man 
was  born  there."  "Who  hath  despised  the  day 
of  small  things?"  "This  is  the  word  of  the 
Lord  .  .  .  Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by 
my  Spirit,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts."  "Who  art 
thou,  O  great  mountain"  of  idolatry?  Before 
the  street  chapel  "thou  shalt  become  a  plain, 
and  he  shall  bring  forth  the  headstone  there- 
of with  shoutings,  crying,  Grace,  grace,  unto 
it." 

The  audiences  are  made  up  of  men  from  many 
provinces.  We  always  bid  them,  "When  you  go 
home,  *Let  him  that  heareth  say.  Come.'  "  In  all 
the  adjoining  cities,  as  soon  as  the  foreigner  goes 
on  shore,  he  is  immediately  recognized,  and  called 
by  the  name  of  the  chapel.  The  very  church,  with 
its  open  doors  and  voice  of  free  grace,  becomes  a 
mighty  agency  for  bringing  Christianity  to  the  no- 
tice of  the  people.    At  home  a  town  may  be  moved 


56  Pbeaching  in  Sinim. 

by  a  revival  service  of  three  or  four  weeks,  but 
here  these  great  cities  need  a  protracted  meeting 
of  three  or  four  centuries. 

,  The  minister  should  aim  at  immediate  conver- 
sions, and  it  is  essential  to  have  a  room  attached 
to  the  chapel  for  prayer  and  conversation,  to  which 
men  are  invited,  and  where  they  may  receive  more 
particular  instruction.  It  is  the  special  duty  of  the 
fishers  of  men  to  be  keenly  ahve  to  seeking  out 
the  more  hopeful  cases,  and  no  efforts  should  be 
spared  to  bring  the  j^arty  without  delay  to  confess 
his  sins,  believe  in  Christ,  and  receive  baptism.  A 
chapel  without  prayer  is  a  field  with  her  hedges 
all  broken  down.  The  Master  preached  to  vast 
multitudes,  and  afterwards  withdrew  to  commu- 
nion with  his  chosen  fev/.  He  who  spoke  to  the 
five  thousand  in  the  wilderness  afterwards 
preached  to  the  one  at  the  well.  All  great  evan- 
gelists, after  they  have  ministered  to  the  great  as- 
sembly, hold  special  converse  with  those  who  re- 
tire to  the  inquiry-room.  The  way  to  obtain  the 
"hopeful  few"  is  by  preaching  to  the  many.  To 
get  a  little  cream  we  must  have  a  quantity  of  milk. 
Preaching  to  the  multitudes,  and  making  special 
efforts  for  the  few,  are  supplementary.  The  ques- 
tion, however,  is  not  whether  it  is  better  to  preach 
to  the  many,  or  to  speak  individually  to  the  few, 


The  Street  Chapel.  57 

but  that  of  systematic,  persistent  efforts  to  make 
known  the  gospel. 

The  inquiry  is  sometimes  made,  "How  often 
shall  we  preach?"  Do  we  ask  the  question,  "How 
often  shall  we  eat?"  In  one  place  the  morning  is 
the  time  to  reach  the  countrymen,  and  sow  the 
seed  in  drills;  in  another,  the  afternoon  affords 
the  finest  opportunity  for  broadcasting  the  grain ; 
while  at  night,  when  the  neighbors  gather  together 
and  hsten  so  solemnly,  the  missionary  realizes, 
"He  that  goeth  forth  and  weepeth,  bearing  pre- 
cious seed,  shall  doubtless  come  again  with  re- 
joicing, bringing  his  sheaves  with  him."  It  is 
the  speaker  who  uses  his  voice  one  day  a  week, 
not  seven,  who  suffers  with  clergyman's  sore 
throat. 

Some  may  prefer  an  office,  or  a  large  reception- 
room,  upon  a  prominent  street,  with  glass  doors 
hung  on  patent  hinges,  which  open  with  a  Push, 
where  the  fire  burns  brightly  in  the  grate,  and  the 
missionary  can  sit  a  long  time  teaching  the  law  of 
God  to  those  who  come  in.  The  effectiveness  of 
work  depends  more  upon  the  number  of  hours  a 
day  given  to  rehgious  teaching  than  upon  the  size 
of  the  chapel.  In  connection  with  the  chapel 
there  should  also  be  a  reading-room  and  book-stall 
well  supplied  with  Christian  and  scientific  litera- 


58  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

ture.  No  pains  should  be  spared  in  making  the 
j)lace  attractive. 

To  reach  the  masses  the  most  effective  way  is 
by  the  street  chapel.  During  the  course  of  twenty 
years,  one  million  men  may  come  into  a  chajDel 
daily  opened,  and  hear  something  of  the  plan  of 
salvation.  It  is  the  Master's  scheme  for  leavening 
a  great  lump  :  "So  is  the  kingdom  of  God,  as  if  a 
man  should  cast  seed  into  the  ground ;  and  should 
sleep,  and  rise  night  and  day,  and  the  seed  should 
spring  and  grow  up,  he  knoweth  not  how.  For  the 
earth  bringeth  forth  fruit  of  herself ;  first  the  blade, 
then  the  ear,  after  that  the  full  corn  in  the  ear. 
But  when  the  fruit  is  brought  forth,  immediately 
he  putteth  in  the  sickle,  because  the  harvest  is 
€ome."  As  a  pious  naval  officer  looked  from  the 
top  of  the  pagoda  at  the  millions  within  view,  and 
his  attention  was  called  to  the  feeble  band  trying 
to  evangelize  the  plain,  he  said:  "It  must  be  dis- 
couraging, it  must  be  discouraging."  The  answer 
was  made:  "Not  at  all;  the  government  does  not 
expect  your  flagship  to  conquer  the  world;  you 
are  simply  to  go  where  you  are  ordered,  and  do 
your  duty." 

To  reach  the  same  men  over  and  over  again 
there  is  no  method  like  the  street  chapel.  As  it  is 
a  public  resort  for  all  classes  and  conditions  of 


The  Street  Chapel.  59 

men,  if  a  man's  heart  is  toucliecl  he  is  likely  to 
come  whenever  he  has  opportunity.  Hundreds  of 
faces  are  as  familiar  as  the  regular  attendants  at  a 
home  church.  All  throughout  the  country  round 
about,  men  will  say,  "I  have  heard  preaching  many 
tens  of  times." 

As  a  civihzing  agency  the  street  chapel  is 
prominent.  The  root  of  opposition  to  Western 
institutions  is  prejudice.  The  daily  association ^ 
of  a  missionary  with  hundreds  gradually  dis- 
lodges these  prepossessions  and  makes  a  breach 
into  the  wall  of  Chinese  obstructiveness.  Just  as 
King  James's  version  has  exercised  a  most  con- 
servative effect  on  English  literature,  or  as  the 
American  pulpit  is  a  most  powerful  element  in 
the  education  of  the  masses,  so  the  incidental 
effect  of  the  street  chapel  is  elevating,  and  that 
in  a  very  marked  degree. 

The  chapel  is  an  enlightening  agency.  Its 
great  effect  is  seen  in  the  diffusion  of  the  truth. 
*Tor  God,  who  commanded  the  Kght  to  shine 
out  of  darkness,  hath  shined  in  our  hearts,  to 
give  the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of 
God."  After  a  chapel  has  been  opened  for  a 
number  of  years  in  a  centre,  if  we  go  one  hun- 
dred miles  away  we  will  mark  the  difference  in 
the  amount  of  general  knowledge  about  Chris- 
tianity   the    people    possess.      The    enlightermient 


60  Peeachixg  in  Sinim. 

of  the  multitude  is  a  great  object  in  missionary 
labor. 

It  is  a  converting  agency.  When  the  oldest 
chapel  now  in  this  city  was  first  opened,  three 
men  immediately  professed  the  faith.  Since  then, 
one  and  another  in  the  city  and  in  the  country 
have  been  brought  in.  A  man  in  Peking,  uniting 
with  a  church  of  another  denomination,  said  that 
he  first  heard  the  gospel  in  a  Soochow  chapel. 
The  preacher  who  first  arrests  the  attention  of  a 
carnal  pagan  to  spiritual  things  is,  in  a  figure, 
his  spiritual  father.  One  who,  for  thirty  years, 
has  done  chapel  preaching  in  the  central  me- 
tropolis of  the  Flowery  Kingdom  writes:  "There 
is  scarcely  a  communion  Sunday,  from  one  end 
of  the  year  to  the  other,  on  which  some  are  not 
admitted  into  the  church  by  baptism.  Last  year 
more  than  a  hundred  adults  were  admitted  into 
our  fellowship." 

We  come,  as  John  the  Baptist,  to  prepare  the 
way  for  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost, — the 
seed  must  first  be  sown,  then  cometh  the  rain. 
There  are  three  departments  of  knowledge  which 
precede  regeneration — the  knowledge  of  God,  the 
knowledge  of  sin,  and  the  knowledge  of  Christ's 
death.  While  reasoning  on  these  topics,  the 
minister  is  kept  in  lively  expectation  and  ear- 
nestly looking  for   the  glorious  appearing  of  the 


The  Street  Chapel.  61 

Lord  at  liis  second  coming,  and  with  brightest 
hopes  for  the  judgment  of  the  great  King,  when 
ail  the  streams  of  influence  will  be  traced  from 
their  source  to  where  they  empty  into  the  great 
ocean  of  eternity.  The  street  chapel  will  then 
shine  with  the  brightness  of  the  firmament.  Ke- 
sults  are  not  to  be  estimated  by  the  annual  number 
of  converts,  for  we  do  not  labor  by  the  day, 
or  the  month,  or  the  year.  'We  are  to  preach 
the  gosj)el  of  the  kingdom  in  all  the  world  for  a 
witness  unto  all  nations.  What  proportion  of  the 
ten  thousand  or  fifty  thousand  patients  treated  in 
a  hospital  in  one  year  embrace  Christianity? 
The  best  definition  for  a  chapel  is  a  hospital 
for  sin-sick  souls.  Many  an  humble  preacher 
when  asked,  "Where  are  your  converts? "  can 
reply,  "These  are  they  which  .  .  .  have  washed 
their  robes,  and  made  them  white  in  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb.  Therefore  are  they  before  the 
throne  of  God."  Of  some  laborious  missionaries 
it  may  be  said,  "These  all  died  in  faith,  not 
having  received  the  promises,  but  having  seen 
them  afar  off,  and  were  persuaded  of  them  and 
embraced  them."  How  full  of  tenderness  are 
the  simple  words  of  the  writer  to  the  Hebrews, 
"For  God  is  not  unrighteous  to  forget  your 
work  and  labor  of  love." 
6 


chapt:eii  v. 

Itineration  and  Woman's  Work. 

THOUGH  tlie  prophets  of  the  Old  Testament 
economy  travelled  much  of  their  time  as 
Samuel,  who  "went  from  year  to  year  in  circruit" 
to  hold  court;  or  as  Elijah  and  Ehsha,  who  taught 
the  people  in  the  city  and  in  the  forest,  and 
spake,  "Thus  saith  the  Lord"  to  kings  and 
priests;  or  as  Isaiah,  who  "walked  naked  and 
barefoot"  three  years  throughout  the  coasts  of 
Israel,  yet  the  true  itinerancy  began  with  our 
Lord  in  Judea,  and  was  carried  on  throughout 
the  known  world  by  the  twelve  apostles  of  the 
Lamb.  "These  twelve  Jesus  sent  forth,  and 
commanded  them,  saying.  Go,  .  .  .  And  as  ye 
go,  preach."  "After  these  things  the  Lord  ap- 
pointed other  seventy  also,  and  sent  them  two 
and  two  before  his  face  into  every  city  and 
place  whither  he  himself  would  come."  His  in- 
structions were,  to  go  tefore  Ms  face,  and  to 
go  into  every  city  and  place  whither  he  himself 
loould  come.  And  when  the  disciples  returned 
they  came  unto  "Jesus  and  told  him  all  things, 
both    what   they   had   done    and   what   they   had 


Itineeation  and  Woman's  Wokk.  63 

taught."  This  is  an  example  that  each  tour 
must  be  ended  by  a  report  to  the  Master. 

In  China,  missionary  circuits  are  of  three  kinds. 
The  first,  the  city  and  its  suburbs ;  the  second,  the 
county  or  the  prefecture ;  the  third,  a  wide  extent 
of  country  with  its  mighty  cities  and  flourishing 
towns.  The  man  of  God  is  not  to  confine  his  la- 
bors to  the  chapel ;  he  must  also  be  a  j)edestrian 
preacher,  and  gain  the  advantage  of  both  the  out- 
door and  indoor  methods.  Along  the  streets  he 
may  reach  numbers,  and  have  groups  of  from  ten 
to  thirty  to  hsten  for  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes. 
Thus  short  sermons  preached  in  a  forenoon  in  sev- 
eral different  localities  will  be  heard  by  many  per- 
sons ;  or  by  tract-distribution  from  house  to  house, 
speaking  a  word  to  each  one,  the  living  preacher 
may  bear  witness  for  Christ.  It  is  important  for 
the  missionary  to  go  once  a  day  to  some  busy  mart, 
and  there  preach  regularly.  In  the  courts  of  the 
temples,  the  open  spaces  of  the  city,  at  the  gates, 
and  upon  the  highways — wherever  men  are  to  be 
found — the  servants  of  the  King  are  to  compel 
them  to  come  in  unto  the  wedding  supper.  The 
Spirit  of  the  Lord  may  touch  a  heart,  and  lead 
some  one  to  the  chapel  to  receive  instruction. 

The  second  circuit  is  that  of  the  county  or  the 
prefecture,  a  field  of  labor  within  definite  bounds. 


64  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

is  the  region  of  country  whicli  the  central  chapel 
directly  influences.  By  itinerating  in  this  section, 
the  city  and  country  work  mutually  act  and  react 
on  each  other.  The  peasant  coming  to  town  re- 
cognizes the  missionary  as  an  acquaintance,  and 
feels  as  if  he  meets  a  friend  in  a  strange  city.  It 
is  important  "to  ride  this  circuit"  several  times  a 
year,  regularly,  patiently,  painstakingly,  and  so 
continue  in  well-doing  till  the  seed  springs  up  and 
bears  fruit.  When  groups  of  native  churches  are 
estabhshed,  these  demand  much  of  the  itinerant's 
attention  and  care,  that  they  may  become  both 
self-sustaining  and  self-supporting.  The  minister 
grows  weary  in  town,  and  the  hills  and  dales,  so 
densely  populated,  furnish  recreating  labor.  The 
Master  spent  much  of  his  time  in  the  villages. 
The  tea-shop,  with  fifty  or  a  hundred  men  sipping 
the  national  beverage,  may  be  converted  into  a 
chapel  by  the  purchase  of  a  cup  of  tea,  and  all  lis- 
ten for  a  few  minutes.  In  the  open  spaces  of  the 
towns,  a  congregation — from  twenty  to  five  hun- 
dred— will  assemble,  and  hsten  to  something  they 
have  not  heard  before.  In  the  hamlets,  a  bench 
is  brought  out,  a  cup  of  tea  offered,  a  number  sit 
around,  the  preacher  is  asked  to  talk,  and  the 
children  ordered  to  be  silent.  There  is  nothing 
more  striking  than  the  courtesy  of  the  farmers  and 


Itinerations  and  Woman's  Woek.  65 

the  kindness  they  show  to  a  foreigner.  Passing 
through  the  fields,  and  talking  to  the  country  peo- 
ple, a  number  will  propose  to  take  a  smoke,  and, 
seated  on  the  green  turf,  will  converse  for  a  half- 
hour  on  gospel  themes.  One  of  the  most  effective 
modes  of  work  is  by  regular  appointments  for 
preaching  at  night,  when  the  neighbors,  the  labors 
of  the  day  finished,  will  assemble,  and  remain  till 
the  service  is  ended.  The  opportunities  in  the 
country  for  a  minister  to  preach  to  the  women  are 
unbounded;  in  fact,  the  large  majority  of  the  lis- 
teners belong  to  the  gentler  sex. 

While  there  remains  such  a  vast  amount  of  un- 
occupied territory,  missionaries  must  occasionally 
take  long  evangelistic  tours,  covering  a  vast  extent 
of  country.  One  of  the  most  effective  methods, 
when  only  one  or  two  days  can  be  given  to  a  place, 
is  colportage.  Where  several  hundred  books, 
tracts,  and  portions  of  the  Bible  can  be  sold  in 
one  day,  it  seems  wise  to  leave  the  written  word  in 
the  place.  It  is  only  those  who  have  travelled 
through  the  land  who  can  appreciate  the  excite- 
ment which  the  presence  of  a  foreigner  creates. 
When  the  enthusiasm  is  so  keenly  aroused,  a  fine 
opportunity  is  afforded  to  make  known  the  primary 
truths  of  Christianity.  In  the  South,  the  mode  of 
travel  is  by  boats,  which  become  a  temporary  resi- 


66  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

dence.  In  the  Nortli,  where  they  travel  in  carts, 
on  wheelbarrows,  or  on  donkeys,  they  stop  in  the 
inns,  and  these  at  times  become  Bethels.  The  soft 
spring  days  and  the  beautiful  autumns  invite  the 
gospel  farmer  to  go  out  into  the  country,  and 
through  this  instrumentahty  many  thousands  have 
been  brought  into  the  kingdom.  The  Chinese 
peasant  prepares  a  plat,  pumping  on  water,  and 
working  U23  to  the  knees  in  mud,  till  not  a  lump 
remains,  and  it  is  of  the  consistency  of  thin  syrup ; 
then  he  walks  along  the  bank  and  broadcasts  the 
grain,  which  sj)rings  up  a  beautiful  carpet  of 
green,  and  these  sprouts  are  transplanted  into  the 
fields.  "  Cast  thy  bread  upon  the  waters ;  for  thou 
shalt  find  it  after  many  days." 

In  the  short  discourse  at  Jacob's  well,  which 
Jesus  delivered  to  his  disciples,  he  bids  them  not 
to  tarry:  "Say  not  ye.  There  are  yet  four  months, 
and  then  cometh  harvest?  Behold,  I  say  unto 
you,  Lift  up  your  eyes,  and  look  on  the  fields ;  for 
they  are  white  ah-eady  to  harvest."  Our  Master 
would  not  say  to  those  preaching  in  China,  "I 
sent  you  to  reap  that  whereon  ye  bestowed  no  la- 
bor; other  men  labored,  and  ye  are  entered  into 
their  labors" ;  for  no  prophets  have  gone  before  us 
exhorting  the  people  to  worship  Jehovah.  The 
Saviour  tells  us  that  one  laborer  follows  another. 


Itinekations  and  Woman's  Work.  67 

He  says:  "And  herein  is  that  saying  true,  One 
soweth,  and  another  reapeth."  One  of  the  keenest 
joys  known  to  the  minister  is  the  gathering  in  of 
converts,  but  there  is  as  much  joy  in  sowing  as  in 
reaping,  "that  both  he  that  soweth  and  he  that 
reapeth  may  rejoice  together." 

Woman's  Woek  for  Women. 
The  hearts  of  godly  women  have  been  turned 
to  their  benighted  sisters  in  pagan  lands,  and 
help  has  been  sent.  The  object  is  not  to  bring 
future  generations  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth, 
but  to  labor  for  the  salvation  of  those  who  now 
live  and  move, — our  contemporaries.  It  is  a 
beautiful  inscription  upon  the  flag  the  ladies  fly 
at  the  masthead,  "Woman's  Work  for  Women"; 
not  "  Woman's  Work  for  Girls,"  but  what  is  tech- 
nically called  "The  Zenana  Work,"  or  talking  to 
adult  females  about  Christ  and  his  redemption. 
When  we  consider  the  influence  of  a  heathen 
mother  and  the  efforts  she  puts  forth  to  teach 
her  children  idolatry,  we  reahze  the  transcendent 
importance  of  this  department  of  labor.  When 
mothers  are  brought  to  Christ,  then  we  may 
hope  for  the  conversion  of  the  children  and 
the  estabhshment  of  a  church.  The  work  in 
the    cities    in     China    is    conducted    by    visiting 


68  PREACHINa  IN  SiNIM. 

from  lioiise  to  liouse,  receiving  visitors  in  tlie 
^'Home,"  forming  voluntary  classes  for  religious 
instruction,  and  by  the  Sabbatli  afternoon  meet- 
ings for  women.  As  the  lady  passes  along  the 
more  retired  streets,  how  many  invitations  'to 
come  in,  and  how  many  esteem  it  a  privilege  to 
have  a  foreign  visitor!  Some  have  been  more 
successful  in  connecting  the  medical  work  with 
the  spiritual,  and  ministering  to  the  sick  in  their 
houses,  and  whenever  a  dose  of  medicine  was 
given  at  the  foreigner's  residence,  to  follow  it  up 
by  a  visit  at  the  native's  home.  It  is  wonderful 
what  an  influence  in  a  large  field  a  lady  in 
active  work  may  thus  gain  in  a  few  years.  Her 
name  a  household  word,  her  presence  greeted 
with  a  smile,  her  counsels  listened  to  with  plea- 
sure, her  inquiries  after  the  sick,  the  aged  and 
the  young,  answered  with  respect,  her  labors 
become  the  ideal  of  pastoral  work,  and  she  is 
received  by  the  people  as  a  ministering  angel. 

The  difficulties  of  laboring  at  the  ports  are 
greater  than  in  the  interior,  so  it  is  quite  de- 
sirable for  the  ladies  to  be  located  in  the  inland 
towns  and  villages,  where  they  have  free  access 
to  the  multitudes.  In  all  central  China,  and  in 
many  other  sections  of  the  empire,  a  lady  may 
itinerate  with  perfect  freedom,  travel  from  village 


Itinekations  and  Woman's  Work.  G9 

to  village,  and  visit  from  hamlet  to  hamlet.     Work- 
ing in  a  definite  field  is,  perhaps,  more  effective. 

How  direct  the  work  when  the  gospel  is  pre- 
sented to  them  one  by  one,  or  a  group  eagerly 
hstening  to  the  first  message;  when  the  heavy 
mists  of  superstition  are  rolled  away,  and  the 
consolations  of  rehgion  are  offered  to  them  in 
their  sorrow!  The  appeals  are  so  pointed,  the 
opportunities  to  divert  the  conversation  into  spir- 
itual channels  so  multiform,  the  receptions  in  the 
parlor  so  homehke,  the  atmosphere  of  the  wo- 
man's meeting  so  genial  and  sympathetic,  such  a 
nearness  and  mutual  attraction,  that  these  become 
precious  seasons  when  the  dews  of  gospel  grace 
are  gently  distilled.  Instead  of  a  few  hundred, 
we  long  for  a  host  of  holy  women,  who  will  seek 
the  millions  wandering  upon  the  mountains  of 
idolatry,  and,  hke  good  shepherdesses,  bring 
them  to  the  fold  of  Christ.  The  Chinese  have  a 
proverb,  "  Good  men  and  beheving  women," 
which  shows  that  here,  as  throughout  the  world, 
woman's  heart  is  more  susceptible  of  religious 
impressions  than  man's ;  and,  as  this  is  a  most 
dehghtful  form  of  evangelistic  labor,  the  room 
where  the  women  meet  often  becomes  like  unto 
the  Mount  of  Transfiguration.  The  one  who 
tells  the   "old,    old   story,"    is   surprised   to    find 


70  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

"  that  the  springs  which  awaken  religious  thought 
are  so  easily  touched;  that  an  unseen  hand  has 
gone  before,  and  has  already  swept  over  those 
chords  and  set  them  vibrating,  which,  in  the  re- 
newed heart,  produce  immortal  harmonies,  hke 
those  in  the  hearts  of  our  first  parents  in  Eden." 
The  Psalmist  says,  "The  Lord  giveth  the  word: 
the  women  that  publish  the  tidings  are  a  great 
host."  {Revised  Version.)  May  there  come  to 
this  land  "a  great  host"  of  godly  women,  who 
will  pubhsh  to  those  of  their  own  sex  "the 
tidings,"  teaching  the  adult  women  of  China  the 
word  of  the  Lord! 


CHAPTEE    YI. 

The  Spiritual  Kinqdom. 

IT  is  common  to  speak  of  the  various  means  used 
for  Christianizing  the  heathen  as  so  many 
hranches  of  missionary  labor,  and  to  place  them 
side  by  side  as  of  equal  importance.  There  is 
scarcely  a  phrase  more  hkely  to  mislead  than  the 
term  "missionary  work,"  as  if  it  consisted  of  sev- 
eral departments  of  evangelistic  labor.  The  press, 
the  school,  the  hospital,  and  the  chapel  are  con- 
sidered the  four  pillars  of  a  great  edifice  which  the 
people  of  God  are  erecting  on  a  heathen  shore. 
This  view  is  incorrect.  Preaching  is  The  Temple, 
and  tracts,  medicine,  and  education  are  as  the 
houses  for  the  priests,  the  chambers  built  round 
about,  and  the  outer  courts  of  the  sacred  place. 
Preaching  is  the  sum  and  substance  of  missionary 
work.  Other  forms  of  labor  are  admissible,  but 
they  are  simply  auxiliaries.  They  are  secondary, 
and  not  primary;  assistants,  and  not  the  principal; 
supplementary,  and  not  the  chief  work.  The  aux- 
iharies  are  worthy  of  all  honor,  if,  first,  in  com- 
parison with  preaching,  the  sun  of  missions,  they 
are  small  planets;    and  second,  that  they  revolve 

71 


72  Pbeaching  in  Sinim. 

around  the  sun,  and  do  not,  like  comets,  fly  off  at 
a  tangent.  What  if  Paul  had  had  a  mission  press 
to  issue  his  letters  by  the  milhon  ?  Would  he  not 
have  used  this  mighty  engine  of  modern  civiliza- 
tion? There  is  no  land  where  labor  and  paper  is 
as  cheap,  so  that  the  printed  page  is  an  effective 
method  of  evangehzation.  Tracts  are  issued  by 
hundreds  of  thousands,  and  point  out  the  way  of 
hfe  to  all  who  read.  And  is  not  the  command  of 
our  Lord,  "Heal  the  sick"?  Were  not  those  three 
happy  years  for  Judea  when  "Jesus  went  about 
all  the  cities  and  villages,  ....  healing  every 
sickness  and  every  disease  among  the  people"? 
Does  not  the  medical  work  represent  Christianity 
in  its  most  attractive  features  to  pagan  nations? 
And  is  there  not  a  direct  connection  between  heal- 
ing the  poor,  sick  body  and  the  sin-sick  soul?  As 
a  matter  of  fact,  the  hospital  is  in  a  measure  a 
combination  of  the  church  and  the  street  chapel. 
There  is  daily  preaching  at  the  dispensary,  and 
regular  services  in  the  wards.  Medical  men  like 
the  late  Kenneth  Mackenzie  make  a  profound 
spiritual  impression  upon  the  tens  of  thousands 
whose  diseases  they  heal. 

The  press,  the  hospital,  and  the  school  are  the 
three  fair  handmaidens  attending  the  ministry,  but 
the  greatest  of  these  is  the  school.     The  resurrect- 


The  Spiritual  Kingdom.  73 

ed  Jesus,  in  liis  brief,  but  touching,  discourse  at 
the  "seaside"  breakfast-table,  said  that  the  proof 
of  love  was,  "Feed  my  lambs."  Surely  the  little 
multitude,  which  at  evening  time  throng  every 
street,  are  not  to  be  left  alone,  with  no  effort  to  do 
them  good.  Surrounded  as  they  are  by  heathen 
influences,  the  Sunday-school  is  not  enough  to 
stem  the  current  of  idolatry  and  superstition,  but 
they  must  be  gathered  into  "seven-days  Sab- 
bath-schools," which  is  the  best  definition  of  the 
Bible-taught  day-schools.  Passing  upwards,  the 
college,  or  school  of  high  grade,  is  a  necessity ;  for 
the  apostle,  in  speaking  of  the  ministry,  enjoined: 
"  The  same  commit  thou  to  faithful  men  who  shall 
be  able  to  teach  others  also."  A  command  em- 
braces all  that  is  necessary  for  its  execution.  It  is 
a  reasonable  hope,  that  from  a  number  of  thor- 
oughly trained  men,  God  shall  call  to  the  ministry 
some  who  are  "apt  to  teach."  The  curriculum  of 
the  native  schools  furnishes  not  one  element  of 
practical  knowledge,  and,  in  addition,  they  are 
idolatrous.  The  churches  must  look,  in  a  large 
measure,  to  the  mission  schools  for  their  pastors. 
It  is  most  desirable  that  the  societies  should  send 
out  a  corps  of  professional  teachers,  laymen,  who 
are  called  to  teach,  but  not  to  preach,  and  who 
can  devote  themselves   wholly  to  the  one  work. 

7 


74  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

As  to  the  diaconate,  tlie  apostles  could  say :  "  It  is 
not  reason  that  we  should  leave  the  word  of  God 
to  serve  tables.  Wherefore,  brethren,  look  je  out 
from  among  you  .  .  .  men  .  .  whom  we  may 
appoint  over  this  business."  And  why?  "We 
will  give  ourselves  continually  to  prayer  and  to  the 
ministry  of  the  word,"  the  two  greatest  things 
known  in  the  church.  Yet,  from  the  ministerial 
ranks  in  every  nation  rise  distinguished  educators, 
who  exercise  a  mighty  influence  upon  morality 
and  reHgion  It  is  also  very  difficult  to  obtain 
teachers.  Many  men  can  preach,  but  only  a  few 
combine  the  Hterary  and  executive  abihty  neces- 
sary to  conduct  a  school.  In  the  mission  field, 
these  may  be  considered  the  most  useful  of  men, 
for  they  gather  into  their  institutions  of  learning 
the  children  of  the  converts  of  many  missionaries, 
train  the  pastors  and  teachers  for  the  rising 
churches,  and  thus  have  much  direct  fruit  from 
their  labors.  But,  while  this  is  true,  education 
must  occupy  a  subordinate  position  in  the  world's 
evangehzation ;  it  must  only  be  an  incidental  part 
of  the  scheme.  There  must  be  a  "proportion  of 
faith."  If  the  main  body  of  evangelists — by  far 
the  vast  majority — give  their  time  wholly  to  "hold- 
ing forth  the  word  of  Hfe,"  then  we  may  confi- 


The  Spiritual  Kingdom.  75 

dently  expect  that  the  spiritual  kingdom  of  the 
Eedeemer  will  be  established. 

Except  in  a  few  instances,  it  cannot  be  said 
that  undue  attention  is  paid  to  education  in  this 
land  at  the  present  time.  China  sleeps,  and  it  is 
almost  as  hard  to  get  the  scholars  to  learn 
geography  as  to  study  the  Bible,  but  when  she 
awakes  and  the  cry  comes  on  every  side,  "Teach 
me!"  "Teach  me!"  there  is  danger  that  the 
church  will  turn  aside  from  her  main  calling.  It 
is  the  case  in  Japan,  where  only  one-third  of  the 
ministerial  force  is  engaged  in  preaching.  They 
have  Hstened  to  the  siren  voice  of  the  native 
press  calhng  them  from  the  pulpit  to  the  profes- 
sional chair.  In  India,  we  learn  that  some  whole 
missions  give  all  their  energy  to  reaching  the 
brain  instead  of  the  heart.  There  are  breakers 
ahead,  and  the  China  church  should  awake  to 
the  danger! 

The  duty  of  the  disciple  is  simply  to  obey  the 
parting  instructions  of  his  departing  Lord,  "Go, 
go;  go  ye,  go  ye  out,  out  into  all  the  world  and 
preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature."  The  Duke 
of  Welhngton  said,  "Let  the  church  obey  her 
marching  orders."  Paul  said  to  Agrippa,  "I 
was  not  disobedient,  O  king,  unto  the  heavenly 
vision."     A  month  before  the  surrender  at  Appo- 


76  Pbeaching  in  Sinim. 

mattox,  in  the  third  watch  of  the  night,  General 
Lee  summoned  Lientenant-General  Gordon  to 
his  headquarters,  and,  leaning  upon  the  mantle, 
told  him  sadly  that  his  army  was  46,000  against 
160,000;  that  his  supphes  were  cut  off,  and  sure 
defeat  awaited  them.  "Go,  then,"  said  his  Lieu- 
tenant, "to  Richmond,  and  urge  Congress  to 
make  peace  on  the  best  terms  it  can  get." 
General  Lee  raised  himself  erect  and  said, 
"  General  Gordon,  I  am  a  soldier."  May  not 
the  preacher  sometimes  feel  that  legislative  func- 
tions pertain  to  his  office,  and  forget  that  he  is 
simply  a  soldier?  Senator  Evarts,  the  son  of 
the  great  Missionary  Secretary,  is  credited  with 
saying,  "  Brethren  of  the  ministry,  stick  to  your 
calling;  preach  the  word;  make  full  proof  of 
your  ministry."  The  distinction  must  be  clearly 
made  between  a  philanthropist  and  a  minister. 
The  one  aims  to  do  good,  the  other,  to  preach 
the  gospel;  the  one,  to  instruct;  the  other,  to 
regenerate;  the  one,  what  is  useful;  the  other, 
what  is  essential  to  salvation.  Every  active 
Christian  may  lead  an  intensely  useful  life  in 
China  and  do  a  great  deal  of  good,  but  the 
church's  strength  must  not  be  frittered  away  in 
its  benevolent  departments,  whether  relating  to 
the  mind  or  the  body.     In  this   land  missionary 


The  Spiritual  Kingdom.  77 

^ork  may  be   defined,   "The   time  spent  in  im- 
parting religious  truth  to  the  Chinese." 

The  Saviour  says,  "  My  kingdom  is  not  of  this 
world."  It  is  a  spiritual  kingdom,  where,  under 
the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  men  worship 
Jehovah,  who  is  a  Spirit,  in  spirit  and  in  truth. 
The  term  "spiritual  kingdom"  is  commonly  used 
in  juxtaposition  to  "political  kingdom,"  but  is 
equally  the  opposite  of  an  educational  kingdom, 
though  the  school  is  an  essential  accompaniment 
of  the  church.  If  education  is  apparently  the 
chief  aim,  as  the  Chinese  have  no  true  concep- 
tion of  the  body  of  Christ,  may  they  not  mistake 
the  school  with  its  sciences  for  the  church  where 
the  Bible  is  taught?  As  Eev.  Griffeth  John  said, 
May  10,  1877,  "We  are  here  not  to  develop  the 
resources  of  the  country,  not  for  the  advance- 
ment of  commerce,  not  for  the  mere  promotion 
of  civilization,  but  to  do  battle  with  the  powers 
of  darkness,  to  save  men  from  sin  and  conquer 
China  for  Christ.  Commerce  and  science  are 
good  in  their  place.  "We  do  not  underrate  their 
importance.  They  might  develop  in  China  a  new 
and  higher  form  of  civilization, — a  civilization 
that  would  bring  with  it  abundant  wealth,  rich 
stores  of  knowledge,  and  many  contrivances  to 
lighten  the  burden  of  existence,   and  make   life 


78  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

more  happy  than  it  is,  but  they  cannot  meet  a 
single  spiritual  want,  still  a  single  spiritual  crav- 
ing, or  infuse  the  Hfe  of  God  into  a  single  soul. 
The  gospel  alone  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salva- 
tion ;  and  salvation  from  the  guilt  and  dominion 
of  sin — from  moral  and  spiritual  misery — is  the 
great  need  of  the  Chinese.  Believing  this,  we 
devote  ourselves  to  the  supreme  work  of  making 
known  to  them  the  truth  as  ifc  is  in  Jesus,  as  far 
as  we  can,  and  of  commending  it  to  their  hearts 
and  consciences  in  every  possible  way." 

We  come  as  spiritual  men,  taught  by  the  Holy 
Spirit,  filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  sent  by  the  Holy 
Spirit,  to  minister  in  holy  things.  It  is  not  enough 
that  we  be  spiritually  minded,  we  must  labor  in  a 
spiritual  calling ;  not  enough  that  our  affections  be 
set  on  things  above,  our  voices  must  speak  spirit- 
ual truths.  In  the  holy  war,  spiritual  weapons  are 
to  be  used.  Paul  says,  "  For  the  weapons  of  our 
warfare  are  not  carnal,  but  mighty,  through  God, 
to  the  pulling  down  of  strongholds."  Geography, 
arithmetic,  astronomy,  history,  chemistry,  are  not 
spiritual  weapons,  and,  though  they  are  good  in 
their  proper  sphere,  they  are  not  mighty  to  demol- 
ish Satan's  kingdom.  Our  direct  work  is  not  to 
reform  the  Chinese  system  of  education,  for  in  it 
there  is  much  that  is  excellent,  but  to  overthrow 


The  Spiritual  Kingdom.  79 

their  religious  systems,  wliicli  are  abominations. 
It  is  important  to  lead  the  mind  into  the  broad 
fields  of  knowledge,  but  much  more  important  to 
guide  souls  into  the  happier  fields  of  Eden.  In 
the  touching  parody,  A  Missionary  Teacher's  La- 
ment^ occurs  this  couplet  (itahcs  ours) : 

"Eight  clever  native  boys,  leing  taught  ofTiea'Den^ 
By  study  of  geogra'phy  are  soon  reduced  to  seven." 

The  missionary  preacher  often  laments  his  apparent 
want  of  success,  but  in  teaching  about  heaven  he 
uses  The  Kevelation  as  his  text-book. 

Our  Lord  says:  "For  which  of  you,  intending 
to  build  a  tower,  sitteth  not  down  first,  and  count- 
eth  the  cost?"  The  Head  of  the  church  has  com- 
manded his  disciples  to  preach  the  gospel  to  this 
nation;  and,  as  he  is  omnipotent  and  omniscient, 
we  have  faith  that,  if  the  church  will  perform  her 
duty,  the  work  will  be  accomplished  by  divine 
power.  If,  however,  we  attempt  the  gigantic  task 
of  educating  four  hundred  millions,  are  we  assured 
that  some  may  not  "begin  to  mock,  and  say,  This 
man  began  to  build,  and  was  not  able  to  finish"? 
Is  it  right  for  the  church  to  attempt  the  double 
Herculean  task  of  christianizing  and  educating? 
Let  the  school  be  used  only  as  a  means  for  con- 
serving the  interests  of  the  kingdom.     The  heralds 


80  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

upon  the  walls  of  Zion  must  not  mistake  material 
progress  for  the  coming  of  the  kingdom  of  right- 
eousness, neither  are  they  to  look  for  a  harvest, 
save  as  the  seed  is  the  word  of  God.  The  apostle 
says:  "Be  not  deceived;  God  is  not  mocked:  for 
whatsoever  a  man  soweth,  that  shall  he  also  reap. 
For  he  that  soweth  to  his  flesh  shall  of  the  flesh 
reap  corruption ;  but  he  that  soweth  to  the  Spirit 
shall  of  the  Spirit  reap  life  everlasting.  And  let  us 
not  be  weary  in  well-doing ;  for  in  due  season  we 
shall  reap,  if  we  faint  not."  The  law  of  harvests 
is  universal.  We  cannot  expect  a  religious  crop 
from  scientific  planting.  The  first  preacher  to  the 
Gentiles  summed  up  his  work  of  husbandry  in 
Corinth:  "We  have  sown  unto  you  spiritual 
things."  We  rejoice  in  the  introduction  of  rail- 
ways, telegraphs,  steamships,  scientific  apparatus, 
and  all  of  which  a  European  civilization  boasts; 
and  if  the  gospel  be  vigorously  preached,  these 
may  prove  aids  to  the  introduction  of  Christianity; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  should  the  people  accept 
civihzation  and  reject  Christianity,  it  may  be  said: 
"If  the  hght  that  is  in  thee  be  darkness,  how  great 
is  that  darkness!" 

There  is  no  lack  of  examples  of  the  course  to  be 
pursued.  The  designation  of  the  prophets  was 
^'men  of  God."     Their  summons  was,  "Hear  ye 


The  Spiritual  Kingdom.  81 

the  word  of  the  Lord."  And  is  the  glory  of  the 
ministry  under  this  dispensation  less  than  that  of 
the  old?  The  apostles  preached  Jesus  and  the 
resurrection.  In  his  address  to  the  presbytery  at 
Ephesus,  Paul  said:  "So  that  I  might  finish  my 
course  with  joy,  and  the  ministry  which  I  have  re- 
ceived of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  gospel  of 
the  grace  of  God.  And  now,  behold,  I  know  that 
ye  all,  among  whom  I  have  gone  preaching  the 
kingdom  of  God,  shall  see  my  face  no  more. 
AYherefore  I  take  you  to  record  this  day,  that  I 
am  pure  from  the  blood  of  all  men.  For  I  have 
not  shunned  to  declare  unto  you  all  the  counsel  of 
God."  We  are  ordered  to  "teach  all  nations,"  but 
Christ  limited  the  text-books  to  sixty-sis — "  teach- 
ing them  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I  com- 
mand you."  We  are  not  to  acce]3t  Beecher's  defi- 
nition of  preaching  "Christ  and  him  crucified"  as 
including  "geography,  history,  science,  or  what- 
ever would  elevate  and  benefit  mankind."  It  is 
only  the  Scriptures  that  are  inspired. 

It  is  sometimes  said  that  the  great  object  of 
the  missionary  is  to  train  men  for  the  ministry. 
This  is  putting  a  part  for  the  whole.  A  native 
ministry  is  the  ripe  fruit  of  the  rising  church, 
and  not  the  original  seed.  Suppose  all  the  doc- 
tors should   spend   their  whole   time   in   training 


82  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

native  physicians;  where,  then,  would  be  the 
sick,  the  lame,  and  the  blind?  And  shall  the 
physicians  of  souls  say  their  mission  is  of  less 
importance  than  that  of  the  medical  profession? 

In  the  evangehzation  of  benighted  nations  it 
is  important  that  the  societies,  boards,  and  com- 
mittees be  composed  of  men  who  not  only  have 
a  zeal  for  God's  glory,  but  who  also  have  expe- 
rienced the  joys  of  a  call  to  preach.  As  min- 
isters' wives  have  always  been  intimately  con- 
nected with  the  preaching  of  the  cross,  perhaps 
they  are  best  fitted  for  serving  on  ladies'  boards 
and  sending  out  holy  women,  who  will  enter  "the 
great  door"  which  is  opened  to  them  of  visiting 
from  house  to  house  and  bringing  mothers  to 
Jesus.  First  win  the  mothers,  and  the  sons  will, 
like  Timothy,  be  "wise  unto  salvation."  The  ob- 
ject of  Woman's  Work  for  Women  is  not  female 
education,  but  their  salvation. 

The  work  among  the  heathen  demands  men 
who,  like  Paul,  can  say,  "Yea,  woe  is  me  if  I 
preach  not  the  gospel."  The  two  mottoes  are, 
"Knowing,  therefore,  the  terror  of  the  Lord,  we 
persuade  men";  and,  "The  love  of  Christ  con- 
straineth  us."  Jeremiah  gives  his  experience : 
"Then  I  said,  I  will  not  make  mention  of  him, 
nor  speak  any  more  in  his  name.     But  his  word 


The  Spiritual  Kingdom.  83 

was  in  mine  heart  as  a  burning  fire  shut  up  in 
mj  bones,  and  I  was  weary  with  forbearing  and 
I  could  not  stay;"  therefore,  he  did  not  continue 
a  silenced  preacher.  Missionary  work  also  de- 
mands men  of  strong  faith,  not  only  faith  in  God, 
but  faith  in  preaching  as  the  power  of  God  unto 
salvation.  He  must  put  aside  "the  evil  heart  of 
unbelief"  and  beheve  that  the  spoken  word  will 
not  "  return  void."  This  preaching  on  naked 
faith,  with  few  converts,  tries  the  husbandman 
who  has  need  of  long  patience.  It  is  not  plea- 
sant to  walk  along  the  streets  of  an  idolatrous 
city,  amidst  the  darkness  of  superstition,  and 
"perpetually  encounter  the  pride,  indi£ference, 
hypocrisy,  absurdities,  stolid  ignorance,  and  in- 
veterate prejudice"  with  which  we  meet,  and  so 
we  need  foreheads  "as  an  adamant  harder  than 
flint." 

The  apostle  tells  us  of  the  certainties  of  the 
gospel,  "We  having  the  same  spirit  of  faith,  ac- 
cording as  it  is  written,  I  beheved,  and  there- 
fore have  I  spoken;  we  also  believe,  and  there- 
fore speak."  If  preaching  is  not  the  way  by 
which  the  world  is  to  be  converted,  then  we 
must  conclude  that  the  risen  Saviour  made  a 
mistake.  Is  the  Lord's  hand  shortened  that  it 
cannot  save  by  preaching,  and  must  it  be  length- 


84  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

ened  by  ways  and  means  of  man's  devising? 
Says  Christ,  "If  a  man  walk  in  the  day,"  i.  e., 
in  the  path  of  duty,  "he  stumbleth  not."  Look 
at  the  preaching  history  of  Methodism  and  its 
giant  growth,  and  shall  not  the  methods  so  suc- 
cessful in  the  Occident  work  well  in  the  Orient? 
We  are  to  rejoice  in  every  effort  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  church  of  the  living  God.  Let 
the  press  issue  her  books  and  tracts  by  the  mil- 
lion, let  the  schools  educate  their  thousands,  and 
the  hospitals  their  ten  thousands,  but,  above  aU, 
let  the  pulpit  maintain  its  prestige.  Two  pe?' 
cent,  of  the  missionary  body  is  quite  enough  for 
all  agencies.  The  number  of  physicians  who  ex- 
ercise their  divine  gift  of  heahng  will  not  hkely 
exceed  ten  per  cent.,  and  if  one  in  ten  of  the 
whole  force  is  engaged  in  teaching  it  is  sufficient 
to  conserve  the  interests  of  Zion  and  to  promote 
those  of  science.  What  would  the  evangelist  do 
without  Bibles  and  tracts  for  colportage,  which 
is  the  help-meet  of  oral  preaching?  Without 
the  physician  to  care  for  the  sick,  the  missionary 
ranks  would  be  rapidly  reduced,  and  besides, 
how  blessed  to  see  the  balm  of  Gilead  ad- 
ministered to  the  sick,  to  behold  the  lame  man 
leaping  as  an  hart,  and  sight  restored  to  the 
blind!     The  ministry  owe  to  laborious   educators 


The  Spiritual  Kingdom.  85 

a  debt  of  gratitude  for  tlie  efficient  aid  thej  ren- 
der in  preparing  native  preachers  and  teachers 
for  their  assistants.  Deducting  those  engaged  in 
the  academy  and  the  hospital,  there  will  be 
three-fourths  of  the  missionaries  left  for  spiritual 
work.  We  are  sure  this  is  not  an  extreme  view. 
Fidehty  to  our  Lord  demands  that  we  claim  that 
the  large  majority  of  those  who  are  sent  shall 
minister  at  the  altar,  and  be  ever  ready  to 
preach  the  gospel.  When  men,  hke  the  late 
Norman  McLeod,  returning  from  a  tour  of  mis- 
sionary inspection  in  India,  advocate  the  edu- 
cational policy,  or,  like  the  sainted  Alexander 
Duff,  who  said,  "Let  me  reach  the  brain,"  we 
take  issue  and  cry,  Time  to  teach,  when  Christ 
says  preach!  time  to  teach,  when  the  Macedo- 
nian cry  is  heard !  time  to  teach,  when  the  pesti- 
lence is  raging!  time  to  teach,  when  men  are 
perishing  for  the  bread  of  life!  time  to  teach, 
when  death  is  near!  time  to  teach,  when  eternity 
is  at  hand!  We  are  to  beware  of  taking  the 
broad  view  of  missionary  work,  for  it  is  Hke 
walking  in  the  broad  road;  the  narrow  way  of 
Christ's  commands  is  the  safest.  There  is  need 
of  caution  from  all,  lest  the  river,  clear  as  crys- 
tal, which  flows  from  underneath  the  throne,  so 
graphically   described   as   deepening   and   widen- 

8 


86  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

ing  and  bringing  life  and  healing  to  the  nations, 
be  like  the  Yellow  Kiver,  "China's  sorrow," 
which,  diverted  from  its  natural  course,  finds  its 
way  to  the  sea  bj  a  channel  too  narrow,  and 
proves  so  disastrious  to  Shantoong  and  Honan. 
When  there  was  no  eye  to  pity  and  no  arm  to 
save,  then  stepped  foi^h  the  Son  of  God  and 
cried,  "  I  delight  to  do  thy  will,  O  my  God ;  yea, 
thy  law  is  within  my  heart.  I  have  preached 
righteousness  in  the  great  congregation;  lo,  I 
have  not  refrained  my  lips,  O  Lord,  thou 
knowest." 


I 


CHAPTEE   VII. 

The  Ambassadoe  to  Sinim. 

N  a  land  of  schools  and  scholars,  it  is  hard  to 
imagine  the  prestige  of  a  western  teacher  in 
the  Middle  Kingdom.  With  the  advantage  of  be- 
ing accepted  as  a  scholar,  how  onght  the  minister 
of  the  New  Testament  to  endeavor  to  show  forth 
the  higher  life  of  a  disciple  of  Christ!  The  ideal 
teacher  of  the  Chinese  is  a  holy  man:  "He  is  en- 
tirely sincere,  and  perfect  in  love.  He  is  magnani- 
mous, generous,  benign,  and  fuU  of  forbearance. 
He  is  pure  in  heart,  free  from  selfishness,  and 
never  swerves  from  the  path  of  duty  in  his  con- 
duct. He  is  deep  and  active,  hke  a  fountain, 
sending  forth  his  virtues  in  due  season.  He  is 
seen,  and  men  revere  him;  he  speaks,  and  men 
believe  him;  he  acts,  and  men  are  gladdened  by 
him.  He  possesses  all  heavenly  virtues.  He  is 
one  with  heaven."  Since  the  Bible  unites  religion 
and  morality,  how  much  is  required  of  the  mis- 
sionary in  manifesting  Jehoveh's  name  unto  those 
to  whom  he  is  sent!  They  know  not  God,  but 
they  study  him  as  revealed  by  his  servants.  They 
have  not  the  Bible,  but  they  read  the  lives  and 

87 


88  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

characters  of  those  who  profess  to  be  guided  by 
its  truths.  If  one  asks,  "Who  is  sufficient  for 
these  things?"  it  may  be  answered:  "Like  as  a 
father  pitieth  his  children,  so  the  Lord  pitieth 
them  that  fear  him.  For  he  knoweth  our  frame; 
he  remembereth  that  we  are  dust." 

It  is  of  prime  importance  that  the  evangelist  be 
a  holy  man.  Are  not  all  the  disciples  called 
saints?  "Ye  are  witnesses,  and  God  also,  how 
holily  and  justly  and  unblamably  we  behaved 
ourselves  among  you,"  said  Paul,  in  his  letter  to 
Thessalonica.  The  minister  "must  be  blameless," 
"That  ye  may  be  blameless  and  harmless,  the  sons 
of  God,  without  rebuke,  in  the  midst  of  a  crooked 
and  perverse  nation,  among  whom  ye  shine  as 
lights  in  the  world."  The  qualifications  for  the 
teaching  elder,  given  in  the  pastoral  epistles,  refer 
mostly  to  the  moral  character,  and  very  briefly  to 
intellectual  endowments.  It  is  not  required  that 
the  man  of  God  profess  hohness,  but  it  is  demand- 
ed that  he  cultivate  personal  piety. 

The  minister  to  the  Chinese  must  be  a  prayerful 
man.  There  will  be  moments  on  the  mount  when, 
like  Moses,  he  holds  communion  with  God.  "  If  I 
have  grace  in  thy  sight,  show  me  now  thy  way." 
"And  he  said,  My  presence  shall  go  with  thee,  and 
I  wiU  give  thee  rest."     "I  beseech  thee,  show  me 


The  Ambassadoe  to  Sinim.  89 

thy  glory."  "And  he  said,  I  will  make  all  my 
goodness  pass  before  thee."  Did  not  the  Great 
Missionary,  after  busy  days  of  preaching  and 
healing,  spend  whole  nights  in  communion  with 
his  Father,  in  order  to  obtain  spiritual  strength  for 
the  work  of  the  morrow?  The  apostle  to  the  Gen- 
tiles magnified  his  office  in  that  he  prayed  for  his 
converts  from  heathenism.  "Without  ceasing  I 
make  mention  of  you  in  my  prayers."  I  "do  not 
cease  to  pray  for  you,  and  to  desire  that  ye  be 
filled  with  knowledge  of  his  will  in  all  wisdom  and 
spiritual  understanding,  that  ye  might  walk  worthy 
of  the  Lord  unto  all  pleasing,  being  faithful  in 
every  good  work,  and  increasing  in  the  knowledge 
of  God ;  strengthened  with  all  might,  according  to 
his  glorious  power,  unto  all  patience  and  long- 
suffering  with  joyfulness."  I  "cease  not  to  give 
thanks  for  you,  making  mention  of  you  in  my 
prayers;  that  the  God  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
the  Father  of  glory,  may  give  unto  you  the  spirit 
of  wisdom  and  revelation  in  the  knowledge  of  him : 
the  eyes  of  your  understanding  being  enlightened ; 
that  ye  may  know  what  is  the  hope  of  his  calHng, 
and  what  the  riches  of  the  glory  of  his  inheritance 
in  the  saints,  and  what  is  the  exceeding  greatness 
of  his  power  to  us-ward  who  beheve,  according  to 
the   working   of    his   mighty   power."     "For   this 


■90  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

cause  I  bow  my  knees  unto  tlie  Father  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  of  whom  the  whole  family  in 
heaven  and  earth  is  named,  that  he  would  grant 
you,  according  to  the  riches  of  his  glory,  to  be 
strengthened  with  might  by  his  Spirit  in  the  inner 
man:  that  Christ  may  dwell  in  your  hearts  by 
faith ;  that  ye,  being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love, 
may  be  able  to  comprehend,  with  all  saints,  what 
is  the  breadth,  and  length,  and  depth,  and  height : 
and  to  know  the  love  of  Christ,  which  passeth 
knowledge ;  that  ye  may  be  filled  with  all  the  ful- 
ness of  God." 

Faith  is  also  a  prime  requisite  in  him  that  lays 
the  foundations  of  the  future  church.  He  must 
have  faith  in  God,  faith  in  the  Bible  as  the  word 
of  God,  faith  in  preaching  as  the  appointed  in- 
strument for  the  conversion  of  men,  faith  in  the 
men  who  are  converted,  faith  in  the  millennium 
promises,  faith  in  Christ  as  the  King  and  Head  of 
the  church.  He  walks  by  faith,  and  lives  by  faith. 
His  motto  is :  "  The  hf e  which  I  now  live  in  the 
flesh,  I  hve  by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God." 

The  missionary's  vital  energy  comes  from  the 
Holy  Spirit.  Paul  forcibly  puts  it:  "Be  not  drunk 
with  wine,  wherein  is  excess ;  but  be  filled  with  the 
Spirit,"  wherein  there  can  be  no  excess.  The 
*' beloved  physician"  quotes  his  Master  when  he  de- 


The  Ambassadok  to  Sinim.  91 

clares:  "But  ye  shall  receive  power,  after  that  the 
Holy  Ghost  is  come  upon  you,"  and  ye  shall  "be 
endued  with  power  from  on  high."  Not  power  in 
this  age  to  work  miracles,  or  to  convert  men,  but  a 
power  to  be  "in  the  Spirit  on  the  Lord's  day,"  a 
power  to  speak  earnestly,  a  power  to  arrest  the 
attention  of  the  audience,  a  power  to  be  hke  a  hot 
stove,  sending  out  heat  to  every  quarter ;  a  power 
to  convince  men  that  we  speak  the  experience  of 
our  own  hearts.  The  preacher,  in  all  ages  of  the 
church,  has  had  power  over  vast  assemblies,  for 
there  is  a  magnetism  in  intellectual  and  spiritual 
gifts.  Stephen  is  described  as  a  man  "full  of  faith 
and  power."  As  a  man  of  power,  the  Bible  places 
before  all  laborers  who  contend  against  idolatry, 
the  giant  character  of  Elijah.  Of  the  forerunner  of 
the  Messiah  the  prophetic  description  was  given: 
"And  he  shall  go  before  him  in  the  spirit  and 
power  of  EHas."  Though  the  extraordinary  gifts 
possessed  by  the  early  church  may  not  be  ours, 
yet  the  ordinary  gifts  are  bestowed  upon  the  dis- 
ciples abundantly  at  this  time. 

The  herald  of  the  cross  must  be  entirely  conse- 
crated to  the  work.  The  apostle  gives  us  a  chap- 
ter on  consecration:  "But  what  things  were  gain 
to  me,  those  I  counted  loss  for  Christ.  Yea,  doubt- 
less, and  I  coimt  all  things  but  loss  for  the  excel- 


92  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

lency  of  tlie  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  m j  Lord ; 
for  whom  I  have  suffered  the  loss  of  all  things, 
and  do  count  them  but  dung,  that  I  may  win 
Christ,  and  be  found  in  him,  not  having  mine  own 
righteousness,  which  is  of  the  law,  but  that  which 
is  through  the  faith  of  Christ,  the  righteousness 
which  is  of  God  by  faith ;  that  I  may  know  him, 
and  the  power  of  his  resurrection,  and  the  fellow- 
ship of  his  sufferings,  being  made  conformable 
unto  his  death;  if  by  any  means  I  might  attain 
unto  the  resurrection  of  the  dead.  Not  as  though 
I  had  already  attained,  either  were  already  per- 
fect; but  I  follow  after,  if  that  I  may  apprehend 
that  for  which  I  am  apprehended  of  Christ  Jesus. 
Brethren,  I  count  not  myself  to  have  apprehend- 
ed; but  this  one  thing  I  do,  forgetting  those  things 
which  are  behind,  and  reaching  forth  unto  those 
things  which  are  before,  I  press  toward  the  mark 
for  the  prize  of  the  high  calHng  of  God  in  Christ 
Jesus." 

He  must  also  be  "all  things  to  all  men."  The 
apostle  stated  his  object  in  this  ready  adaptability 
to  the  varied  conditions  of  the  peoples  to  whom 
he  ministered :  "  I  am  made  all  things  to  all  men, 
that  I  might  by  all  means  save  some."  We  do  not 
suppose  that  he  specially  referred  to  man  Tnilli- 
7iery,  or  man  commissary^  or  man  ceremony,  but  to 


The  Ambassador  to  Sinim.  93 

fclie  higher  and  more  important  affairs  of  the  mind 
and  heart.  He  was  a  true  minister,  and,  as  "the 
Son  of  man  came  not  to  be  ministered  unto,  but  to 
minister,"  so  Paul  said, "  I  made  myself  servant  unto 
all,  that  I  might  gain  the  more."  With  the  Jews, 
he  drew  his  arguments  from  the  Old  Testament 
Scriptures ;  preaching  to  the  Gentiles,  he  appealed 
to  conscience.  For  fear  of  offending  the  weak 
brethren,  he  ate  not  the  food  which  had  been  of- 
fered to  idols  or  ancestors.  If  salary  caused  his 
parishioners  to  say  that  he  "ate  the  church's  rice," 
he  labored  at  his  old  trade,  though  he  taught  that 
the  Lord  ordained  that  the  preacher  "should  Hve 
of  the  gospel."  In  his  intercourse  with  men  he 
sought  for  that  which  is  expedient,  appropriate, 
and  seasonable.  Those  who  foUow  the  apostle  in 
his  missionary  journeys  should  study  the  deep 
spiritual  meaning  of  his  words  when  he  says, 
"This  I  do  for  the  gospel's  sake." 

The  missionary  must  lead  a  Hfe  of  self -denial. 
It  is  not  enough  that  "he  go  out,  not  knowing 
whither  he  goeth,"  but  that  he  ever  keep  his  body 
in  subjection.  Among  a  people  where  existence  is 
reduced  to  the  minimum,  his  style  of  living  should 
be  as  simple  as  is  conducive  to  health  and  com- 
fort, for  at  the  lowest  it  seems  extravagant  to  the 
Ohinese.     On  the  other  hand,  he  should  avoid  as- 


94  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

ceticism  iu  all  its  forms.  The  Master  associated 
T\dth  all  classes,  and  tliougli  lie  liad  not  where  to 
lay  his  head,  yet  he  joyfully  accepted  the  invita- 
tions to  the  feasts  prepared  in  his  honor.  There 
is  a  happy  medium,  which  is  left  to  the  good  sense 
of  each  laborer. 

Joy  is  one  of  the  highest  requisites  in  the 
catagory  of  missionary  graces.  Amidst  difficul- 
ties, foes  without  and  dissensions  within,  Nehe- 
miah  said  to  the  returned  captives  at  Jerusalem, 
''The  joy  of  the  Lord  is  your  strength."  The 
minister  is  to  "rejoice  evermore."  Day  by  day 
his  spirits  must  soar  upwards  as  the  lark.  There 
is  nothing  more  dangerous  than  depression.  A 
man  cannot  bear  the  burden  of  idolatry  of  a 
great  nation.  He  is  simply  to  stand  in  his  ap- 
pointed place  and  testify  against  it.  He  is  daily 
to  give  thanks  that  among  the  Gentiles  he  may 
declare  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ.  He  is 
to  rejoice  in  his  converts,  and,  like  Paul,  to  ask, 
"For  what  is  our  hope,  or  joy,  or  crown  of  re- 
joicing?" and  himself  give  the  answer,  "Ye  are 
our  glory  and  joy."  He  is  to  keep  his  eye  fixed 
on  the  future  rewards  of  the  faithful  watchman. 
He  is  to  rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable,  and  be 
glad  with  exceeding  joy.  "A  merry  heart  maketli 
a  cheerful  countenance."     "A  merry  heart  doeth 


The  Ambassador  to  Sinim.  95 

good  like  a  medicine."  The  pressure  of  study 
and  work  is  too  great  for  any  one  to  sustain 
without  the  spring  and  buoyant  influence  of  a 
hearty  laugh.  What  incentives  to  joy?  The 
Saviour  commanding,  the  church  sending,  prayers 
ascending,  heaven  awaiting,  is  this  not  joy? 

Paul  gives  the  advice  to  Timothy,  and,  through 
him,  to  all  who  labor  in  distant  lands,  "Take  heed 
unto  thyself."  Not  to  watch  simply  the  methods 
and  ways  of  work,  or  his  diligence  in  performing 
his  duty,  but  to  look  well  to  his  own  personal  con- 
dition. Away  from  home,  amidst  heathen  influ- 
ences, and  with  Christians  recently  reclaimed  from 
paganism,  there  is  need  to  **  watch  and  pray." 
Each  one  must  say,  "  I  keep  under  my  body,  and 
bring  it  into  subjection,  lest  that  by  any  means, 
when  I  preach  to  others,  I  myself  should  be  a  cast- 
away." 

Above  all,  he  needs  to  possess  a  sympathetic 
heart.  He  must  be  a  Chinese  of  the  Chinese,  and 
feel  for  the  people  in  their  poverty,  ignorance,  su- 
perstition, and  idolatry;  "Who  can  have  compas- 
sion on  the  ignorant,  and  on  them  that  are  out  of 
the  way,  for  that  he  himself  also  is  compassed  with 
infirmity."  "For  we  have  not  an  high  priest  who 
cannot  be  touched  with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmi- 
ties."    And  this  sympathy  must  ripen  into  love. 


•96  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

Love  to  the  sheep  is  a  mark  of  the  true  Shepherd, 
who,  "having  loved  his  own,  loved  them  unto  the 
end."  No  one  is  prepared  for  work  among  any 
race  without  a  love  to  the  people.  How  the  epis- 
tles abound  in  testimonies  of  the  ardent  love  of 
the  pastor  for  the  flock!  Hundreds  of  mission- 
aries in  Sinim  can  exclaim:  "Oh,  ye  Chinese,  our 
mouth  is  open  unto  you,  our  heart  is  enlarged. 
Te  are  not  straitened  in  us,  but  ye  are  straitened 
in  your  own  bowels." 

The  crowning  gift  of  the  preacher  is  humility. 
King  David  never  forgot  that  God  "took  him  from 
the  sheep-cote,  ....  and  brought  him  to  feed 
Jacob,  his  people ;  and  Israel,  his  inheritance." 
Paul  said,  "For  I  am  the  least  of  the  apostles,  that 
am  not  meet  to  be  called  an  apostle,"  and  termed 
himself  "the  least  of  all  saints,"  yea,  "the  chief  of 
sinners."  No  shadow  of  egotism  must  be  suffered 
to  darken  the  heart  or  hfe  of  the  laborer — "my 
church,"  "my  work,"  "my  converts."  Day  by  day 
God's  name  is  to  be  praised.  "Not  unto  us,  not 
unto  us,  but  unto  thy  name  be  the  glory."  In  one 
word,  the  spiritual  life  of  the  disciple  must  be 
summed  up  in  the  invitation  of  Christ:  "Learn  of 
me,  for  I  am  meek  and  lowly  in  hea,rt,  and  ye  shall 
find  rest  for  your  souls." 


CHAPTEE    YIII. 

LiTEEARY  Preparation. 

WHEN  the  apostles  were  sent  forth  to  estabhsh 
a  new  rehgion,  prominent  among  their  en- 
dowments was  the  "gift  of  tongues."  At  the  de- 
scent of  the  Holy  Ghost  at  Pentecost,  "There  ap- 
peared unto  them  cloven  tongues  as  of  fire,  and  it 
sat  upon  each  of  them,  .  .  .  and  they  began  to 
speak  with  other  tongues.  .  .  .  The  multitude 
came  together,  and  were  confounded,  because  that 
every  man  heard  them  speak  in  his  own  language." 
Thus  was  ability  given  them  to  go  from  land  to 
land  proclaiming  the  gospel.  The  great  apostle 
could  say,  "I  spake  with  more  tongues  than  ye 
all"; — he  was  the  most  distinguished  linguist  the 
world  has  ever  seen.  This  miraculous  gift  of 
tongues  must  have  produced  a  wonderful  impres- 
sion upon  the  nations  of  the  earth,  and  attested 
the  divine  origin  of  the  religion  the  first  preachers 
came  to  estabhsh.  This  heaven-bestowed  endow- 
ment of  being  able  in  a  moment  to  speak  in  a  for- 
eign language  has  ceased,  but  we  have  no  doubt 
that,  in  answer  to  prayer,  the  gift  of  tongues  is 
9  97 


98  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

still  bestowed  upon  t]ios.e  who  diligently  use  the 
means  placed  at  theu'  disposal. 

The  language-student  has  many  advantages: 
first  and  foremost,  a  dictionary  of  surpassing  merit 
in  its  perspicuity,  and  also  the  numerous  primers, 
vocabularies,  and  hand-books.  He  has,  too,  the 
blessing  of  possessing  a  teacher  who  does  not 
know  a  word  of  English,  for  with  an  EngHsh- 
speaking  preceptor  the  task  is  ahnost  hopeless. 
During  the  first  years  the  novice  is  in  a  most  try- 
ing position.  He  graduates  at  coUege,  takes  a 
three-years  course  in  a  theological  hall,  is  ordained 
as  an  ambassador  to  the  heathen,  and,  landing 
upon  a  distant  shore,  finds  himself  as  helpless  as 
an  infant,  without  the  infant's  privilege  of  making 
its  wants  known  by  crying.  A  royal  road  to  the 
acquisition  of  the  Chinese  language  has  not  yet 
been  discovered.  There  is  not  the  shghtest  con- 
nection between  this  tongue  and  European  lan- 
guages, and  former  studies  into  Latin  and  Greek 
roots  afford  no  aid.  Also  it  is  one  thing  to  learn 
to  read  a  dead  language,  and  quite  another  to  be 
able  to  speak  a  living  tongue.  The  young  mission- 
ary's whole  time  and  energy  should  be  devoted  to 
the  arduous  task.  TiU  his  lips  are  unsealed,  and 
he  can  speak  with  the  tongues  of  men,  he  is  sim- 
ply an  incubus  upon  the   society  that   supports 


Literary  Preparation.  99 

him.     Were  lie  at  home,  he  could  employ  his  time 
in  preaching,  and  thus  try  to  do  some  good,  but 
now  his  lips  are  sealed.     Surely  he  should  make 
every  effort   to   shorten   his    probation.     As  Paul 
says,  "I  had  rather  speak  five  words  with  my  un- 
derstanding";  and  again,   "Therefore,  if  I  know 
not  the  meaning  of  the  voice,  I  shall  be  unto  him 
that  speaketh  ^a  barbarian."     Much  responsibihty 
rests  upon  the  seniors  in  the  field  in  pressing  upon 
the  new  arrival  the  absolute  necessity  of  constant 
and  earnest  effort  to  learn  to  talk,  and  at  first  giv- 
ing them  daily  some  aid.     The  young  missionary 
with  an  earnest  desire  to  engage  in  work  as  soon 
as  he  arrives  upon  the  field,  may  imagine  that  he 
can  be  useful  by  teaching  English  while  he  is  at 
the   rudiments   of   the   language.     The    policy  of 
Enghsh  and  Chinese,  half-and-half,  is  suicidal  in 
respect  to  one's  future  ministry.     If  English  is  de- 
sirable, it  should  be  taught  either  by  those  who 
have    learned    the    language,    or    by    those    who 
never  expect  to  study  it.     By  six  hours  a  day  de- 
voted to  study,  and  constant  association  with  the 
people,  any  man  of  rather   more   than    ordinary 
abihty  may  in  three  years  learn  to  speak  Chinese 
moderately  weU.  If,  then,  he  teaches  Enghsh  three 
hours,  how  long  will  it  take  him?     It  may  be  an- 
swered that  this  is  a  simple  sum  in  arithmetic.     If, 


100  PEEACHINa  IN  SiNIM. 

however,  we  appeal  to  mathematics,  there  is  the 
problem  of  the  snail  which  crawled  up  the  post 
four  feet  dui^ing  the  day,  and  sHpped  back  two  feet 
at  night.  If  he  studies  Chinese  in  the  forenoon, 
and  teaches  Enghsh  in  the  afternoon,  his  progress 
will  be  that  of  the  snail.  The  Chinese  language  is 
too  intricate  and  too  difficult  to  allow  of  half-way 
measures.  The  man  must  learn  to  think  before  he 
is  able  to  speak,  and  Enghsh  must  be  banished  by 
the  expulsive  power  of  a  new  tongue.  When  one 
sees  a  Chinaman,  he  must  think  in  Chinese,  if  he 
desires  to  speak  Tvith  ease.  Besides  putting  off  the 
day  of  preaching  indefinitely,  the  semi-student  mil 
hkely  become  discouraged,  and  remit  his  sturdy 
effoi-ts.  Among  the  China  missionaries  good  speak- 
ers are  the  rule,  and  only  now  and  then  do  we  meet 
with  an  exception ;  but  in  the  Sumise  Kingdom, 
where  they  talk  with  Enghsh-speaking  Japanese, 
and  teach  English  daily,  many  may  truly  say,  "I 
spake  as  a  child."  The  church  ahows  three  years 
to  the  student-missionary  to  prepare  for  life's  war- 
fare. Let  him,  as  "a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ," 
not  "entangle  himself  with  the  affairs  of  this  life; 
that  he  may  please  him  who  hath  chosen  him  to 
be  a  soldier." 

It  is  necessary  for  the  preacher  to  the  heathen 
to  sjpeak  fluently .     We  must  preach  so  as  to  com- 


LiTERAKY   PrEPAEATION.  101 

mend  the  gospel  to  the  favorable  consideration  of 
the  people.  As  long  as  the  audience  is  busy  noting 
grammatical  errors,  we  can  make  little  progress  in 
instilling  religious  truth.  Xo  one  need  say,  "I 
have  no  gift  of  language."  Let  the  young  brother 
become  as  a  Httle  child,  and  prattle  everything  he 
hears,  not  waiting  to  comprehend  the  meaning.  Let 
him  study  for  hours  in  his  office,  and  then  daily 
throw  himself  among  the  people — in  the  tea-shops, 
along  the  market-places,  at  the  coohe-stands,  on 
the  bridges — in  his  notebook  carefully  jotting  down 
every  new  expression,  or  with  his  teacher  along 
the  streets,  studying  the  'language  as  it  is  written 
on  the  hanging  signs,  and  soon  he  will  find  him- 
self swimming  in  a  sea  of  words.  The  streets  are 
full  of  boys  and  men  who  are  ready  to  teach,  and 
who  charge  no  fee;  they  are  pedagogues  just  for 
the  fun.  There  are  two  great  books,  the  book  of 
written  characters  and  the  book  of  living  voices. 
These  are  the  two  sides  of  the  Hnguistic  arch.  If 
the  student  pursues  the  indoor  method,  his  Chinese 
will  sound  to  the  ear  just  as  Wickliffe's  Tersion  ap- 
pears to  the  eye ;  if,  on  the  other  hand,  he  neglects 
his  text-books,  his  vocabulary  will  be  superficial; 
but  if  he  learns  a  sentence  within,  and  tries  to  use 
it  on  the  street,  the  people  ere  long  will  say, 
"Why,  you  talk  just  like  we  do."     "We  are  not  to 


102  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

daub  the  walls  of  Zion  witli  mud,  but,  like  Solo- 
mon, to  "build  of  stone  made  ready  before  it  was 
brought  thither."  If  we  speak  to  the  people  "with 
stammering  Hps  and  another  tongue,"  and  our  own 
countrymen  would  not  hsten  to  us  in  a  land  where 
Christianity  is  accepted,  how  can  we  expect  to  im- 
press those  who  do  not  beheve  in  our  rehgion? 
Just  as  a  little  urchin  was  asked,  "What  are  you 
going  to  be  ?  "  "  Going  to  be  a  preacher."  "  Where 
are  you  going  to  preach?"  "In  China."  "WeU, 
what  are  you  going  to  preach  in  China?"  "I  am 
going  to  preach  Ghineser  This  was  not  the  an- 
swer desired,  but  it  illustrates  the  point :  a  preacher 
in  China  must  preach  Chinese.  We  must  aim  at  a 
high  standard  in  the  vernacular.  A  sinologue  is 
one  who  is  a  master  in  Chinese  lore,  but  a  colloquial 
scholarship  is  of  a  much  higher  order  than  classical 
learning,  just  as  to  preach  a  sermon  requires  more 
skill  than  to  write  one.  Each  one  must  bring  his 
gifts  to  the  altar.  Missionary  life  does  not  consist 
wholly  in  prayers  and  holy  living,  for  a  ready 
tongue  is  a  prime  factor. 

We  come  to  a  land  rich  in  its  mines  of  language. 
There  is  nothing  in  the  literature  of  China  but  lan- 
guage. Nothing  is  taught  in  the  schools  but  lan- 
guage— merely  the  department  of  helle-lettres  or 
English  nterature  in  our  colleges — and  a  diploma 


Literary  Preparation.  103 

is  granted  to  tlie  elect  few  who  can  write  pretty 
essays;  so  the  verbiage  of  China,  like  tropical  foli- 
age, is  precociously  developed.     There  is  a  wealth 
of    idiom,  a   variety   of   synonym,  a  diversity  of 
expression,  an   infinity  of  phraseology,  that  gives 
every  possible   shade   of  meaning,  and   opens   a 
wide-extended  field  for  the  speaker.     The  materi- 
als for  oratory  are  all  here,  and  the  earth  opens 
her  stores  to  those  who  seek  for  hid  treasure.    Let 
all  the  studies  bend  to  the  one  object  of  being  a 
workman  who  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed  in  the 
pulpit.    There  is  a  very  practical  thought :  A  home 
congregation  will,  out  of  respect  for  the  sanctuary, 
remain  seated  tiU  the  benediction  is  pronounced; 
but  here  a  man  must  enchain  his  audience  by  the 
mode  of  presenting  the  truth.     To  preach  to  the 
native  Christians  is  easy,  as  we  have  only  to  ex- 
pound the  Bible,  which  they  receive  as  a  revela- 
tion from  God;  but  when  we  come  to  men  who  ac- 
cept nothing,  beheve  nothing,  and  hope  for  no- 
thing, and  when  the  only  basis  of  our  teachings  is 
conscience  and  the  hght  of  nature,  we  need  all  the 
aid  that  thought  and  language  can  give. 

The  question  is  often  asked,  "When  shaU  I  com- 
mence preaching?"  The  answer  is  easy;  "After 
six  months."  Start  with  a  sermonette  or  baby  ser- 
mon; day  by  day  add  to  it,  and,  if  kept  in  motion, 


104  PREACHINa  IN  SiNIM. 

it  will  grow  like  a  snowball  rolled  over  the  com- 
mon. Tlie  best  way  of  learning  to  preacli  is  to 
preach.  The  first  sermon  a  man  who  is  the  oldest 
Christian  in  the  city  heard  was  one  which  was 
preached  when  the  speaker  was  not  able  to  talk 
over  five  minutes.  An  old  missionary  said  of  juve- 
nile efforts,  "It  will  do  no  harm."  He  might  have 
added,  *'It  may  do  good." 

In  some  fields  attempts  have  been  made  to 
preach  through  an  interpreter.  The  man  who  is 
called  to  a  heathen  land  at  threescore  has  no  al- 
ternative, but  not  he  who  is  half  that  age.  Leav- 
ing out  of  question  the  difficulty  of  translating  at 
the  instant,  the  length  of  time  required  for  a  dis- 
course twice  spoken,  and  the  difficulty  of  obtaining 
a  reliable  interpreter,  the  very  fact  that  the  for- 
eigner lacks  the  "idiom  of  thought"  stamps  this 
method  of  speaking  as  essentially  defective.  Un- 
less there  is  a  mental  affinity  between  the  minds  of 
the  speaker  and  the  hearer,  to  convey  truth  is  a 
difficult  task.  A  minister,  through  an  interpreter, 
addressing  an  audience  composed  both  of  Chris- 
tians and  heathen,  said:  "A  certain  nobleman 
asked, '  What  proof  was  there  of  the  truth  of  Chris- 
tianity?' and  was  answered,  'The  Jews,  my  lord."* 
To  rightly  interpret  the  reply  would  require  a  sec- 
tion of  the  world's  history,  and  would  take  about 


Literary  Preparation.  105 

two  weeks.  A  Chinese  Mandarin  asked,  "In 
America  how  do  yon  choose  a  President?"  A 
Consnl  answered,  "We  have  two  great  political 
parties,  the  Republicans  and  Democrats.  Each 
party  puts  np  its  candidate  and  the  choice  is 
between  them."  The  interpreter  said,  "The  conn- 
try  is  divided  into  North  and  South;  the  North 
pnts  up  one  candidate  and  the  South  another." 
The  difficulty  lay  in  trying  to  say  Democrat  or 
Repubhcan,  or  Whig  and  Tory,  or  Liberal  and 
Conservative  in  Chinese.  A  bishop,  on  a  recent 
visit  to  a  neighboring  kingdom,  had  for  an  inter- 
preter the  finest  hnguist  in  his  mission.  He  was 
addressing  the  class  for  ordination  and  trying  to 
impress  upon  them  the  necessity  of  giving  more 
prominence  to  the  sermon  than  to  the  exhorta- 
tion. He  said,  "Strokes  could  be  made  with  a 
lash,  but  they  were  harder  if  the  lash  was  fastened 
to  a  stock — the  sermon  was  the  stock  and  the  ex- 
hortation the  lash."  Our  hnguist  could  not  think  of 
the  word  "  stock,"  or  of  a  more  suitable  figure,  so  he 
said  the  sermon  was  Kke  a  dog  and  the  exhortation 
as  the  tail,  which,  of  course,  carried  as  little  mean- 
ing as  that  of  a  dog  wagging  his  caudal  appendage. 
It  is  better  for  a  man  to  be  his  own  interpreter. 
Those,  however,  who  are  so  situated  that  they 
cannot  do  otherwise,  let  them  use  an  interpreter. 


106  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

Some,  like  Moses,  speak  effectively  through  the 
lips  of  another,  and  it  may  be  a  means  of  awaken- 
ing attention,  converting  men,  and  building  up  the 
church  in  faith  and  knowledge. 

An  extensive  acquaintance  with  the  hterature  of 
the  country  is  necessary  for  one  who  has  a  literary 
profession.  It  brings  us  into  association  with  the 
brain  of  China.  If  we  quote  the  authors  the  peo- 
ple honor,  it  adds  much  weight  to  oiu-  address.  We 
must  know  something  of  Chinese  philosophy  and 
the  leading  teachings  of  the  sages.  Especially 
should  ministers  appreciate  the  high  order  of 
moral  excellence  inculcated  in  their  books,  and 
make  this  a  basis  for  the  higher  truths  of  rehgion. 
A  "working  knowledge"  of  the  classics  is  almost 
essential  to  our  success  as  preachers.  There  is  no 
department  more  necessary  than  a  famiharity  with 
the  Hght  Hterature  of  China.  Very  Httle  of  it  will 
bear  a  full  translation,  because  of  coarse  expressions 
in  nearly  every  chapter,  but  it  is  easy  to  pass  over 
these  parts  for  the  great  benefit  of  reading  semi- 
colloquial  books.  The  collections  of  proverbs  are 
very  useful  to  those  who  master  them.  The  native 
newspaper  gives  the  current  thought  of  the  day, 
and  the  Enghsh  "leading  journals"  at  the  port 
keep  one  in  a  Chinese  atmosphere.  There  is  a 
field  for  research  in  the  standard  English  works 


LiTERAEY  PeEPARATION.  107 

on  China,  and  those  missions  are  wise  which  put 
them  into  the  student's  curriculum.  The  Chinese 
language  is  so  constructed  that  it  requires  regular 
study — if  only  a  short  time  each  day — for  a  score 
of  years,  for  if  the  one  who  uses  the  vernacular 
does  not  go  forward  he  is  apt  to  fall  behind. 

By  close  observation  we  are  to  obtain  an  insight 
into  Chinese  character.  They  are  keen  observers 
and  form  their  estimate  of  the  man  who  stands 
before  them  with  surprising  astuteness,  and  shall 
we  be  behind  them  in  the  study  of  men?  This 
book  of  human  nature  in  China  is  in  many  vol- 
umes, printed  in  divers  copies  and  bound  in  a 
variety  of  styles;  not  all  equally  interesting,  but 
a.  knowledge  of  the  whole  is  beneficial  and  instruc- 
tive. We  come  as  teachers  of  the  Bible,  but  if 
we  follow  the  example  of  Jesus,  we  will  preach 
the  word  of  God  in  the  language  of  men.  As  we 
are  religious  teachers  we  must,  first  of  all,  become 
acquainted  with  the  three  great  idolatrous  systems, 
as  there  is  no  finer  field  of  illustrating  the  true 
than  by  comparing  it  with  the  false.  * 

*  For  the  elucidation  of  this  part  of  the  subject,  the  reader  is 
referred  to  the  Dragon,  Image  and  Demon;  or  Gonfuoiani&m^ 
Buddhism  and  Taoism  and  TTie  Three  Religions  of  Ghina,  pub- 
lished by  A.  C.  Armstrong  &  Son,  New  York ;  S.  W.  Partridge  & 
Co.,  London. 


108  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

Tlie  Chinese  do  not  exercise  their  minds  on  liigli 
topics,  but  thej  do  know  many  small  things.  We 
must,  like  them,  be  intimately  acquainted  with  the 
three  hundred  and  sixty  trades,  and  especially  the 
prices  of  all  commodities.  When  we  are  speaking, 
the  markets,  fruit  stands  and  vegetable  stalls  must 
be  on  the  tongue's  end  for  the  sake  of  illustration. 
A  man  must  know  how  to  build  a  house,  row  a 
boat,  plant  rice,  irrigate  the  fields,  rear  the  silk 
worm,  weave  silk  and  quarry  stone !  We  are,  in  our 
linguistic  attainments,  to  be  scholars,  merchants, 
cobblers,  cooks,  coolies  and  washermen.  We  must 
know  what  the  people  know,  and  prepare  our  ser- 
mons in  the  language  of  their  daily  life.  It  is  de- 
sirable to  be  acquainted  with  the  topography  of 
our  section  of  country,  and  the  names  of  locahties. 
A  lady  to  reach  the  women  must  converse  fluently 
on  all  the  details  of  home  hfe  and  woman's  em- 
ployments and  avocations.  What  a  vast  field  of 
research  there  is  in  the  government  of  China,  and 
how  can  we  better  show  the  eternal  jurisdiction  of 
Jehovah  than  by  delineating  a  human  system 
which  has  proved  its  stability  by  its  centuries? 
Each  one  is  appalled  by  the  magnitude  of  the  task, 
but  daily  strength  comes  by  daily  food,  and  our 
ability  to  speak  lies  mostly  in  the  effort  to  pre- 
pare. 


CHAPTEE   IX. 

The  Style  of  Preaching. 

THIS  topic  can  best  be  introduced  by  the  ques- 
tion, "  Where  are  we  called  to  preach?  "  The 
answer  is  immediately  returned,  "In  the  Orient." 
Then  let  the  style  of  preaching  be  oriental.  The 
first  thing  that  arrests  the  traveller's  attention  in 
the  East  is  the  oriental  style  of  architecture — the 
dragon  comb  to  the  roof,  the  ornamental  cornices 
and  quaint- carvings.  Or  if  in  the  stores  we  look  at 
the  finer  class  of  goods,  how  many  pretty  things 
adorn  the  shelves,  little  cunning  contrivances  which 
please  the  eye  but  seem  to  lack  in  utility.  Note 
the  variety  of  fans  which  gentlemen  carry  in  their 
hands  and  dehght  to  admire!  How  many  multi- 
colored silks  there  are  in  a  silk  and  satin  hong! 
In  China  there  are  no  factories  on  the  gigantic 
scale  of  the  West,  turning  out  their  fabrics  by  the 
bale,  or  car-load,  or  ship-load,  but  there  is  an 
endless  variety  of  minor  goods  and  chattels.  When 
we  come  to  the  language  we  find  that  the  whole 
idea  is  to  write  a  pretty  composition  in  a  florid, 
high-flowing,  ornamental  style.  As  they  are  fond 
of  talking,  and  spend  so  much  time  in  conversa- 
10  109 


110  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

tion,  their  field  of  spoken  language  is  so  broad  that 
we  can  never  hope  to  cultivate  more  than  one 
small  corner. 

The  first  thing  that  must  be  impressed  upon  our 
minds  is,  that  the  style  of  preaching  here  must 
be  something  distinct  from  the  essays  in  English 
monthlies,  or  the  ordinary  mode  of  sermonizing. 
If  the  one  thought  is  distinctly  before  the  speaker, 
of  preaching  differently  from  what  he  would  do  at 
home,  it  is  quite  easy  to  find  the  right  road.  He 
must  first  leave  the  "old  ruts,"  then  he  will  blaze 
out  a  new  route.  In  doctrine  he  is  to  "ask  for  the 
old  paths,"  in  the  method  of  presentation  he  must 
in  China  search  for  the  new. 

"We  are  to  preach  in  a  bright,  lively  style.  The 
people  are  merry  talkers,  full  of  wit  and  quick  at 
repartee,  so  our  addresses  must  be  in  a  happy 
strain.  The  poetic  faculty  must  be  cultivated  so 
that  illustration  becomes  second  nature.  The 
Chinese  show  great  skill  in  the  use  of  figures  of 
speech  in  their  ordinary  conversation.  They  de- 
light in  the  picturesque,  and  in  all  that  adorns  and 
beautifies.  A  graphic  description  arrests  their 
attention,  and  we  should  guide  them  through  the 
picture  galleries  of  Scripture  narrative,  and  sketch 
sacred  scenes  with  the  pencil  of  language.  They 
appreciate  the  flowers  of  rhetoric  and  the  polished 


The  Style  of  Preaching.  Ill 

gems  of  oratory.  The  native  preachers  are  fond 
of  analogy,  and  their  gifts  lie  so  decidedly  in  that 
line  that  it  is  difficult  to  kee^D  their  metaphors 
within  just  bounds.  Dr.  Guthrie,  visiting  a  gal- 
lery on  the  continent,  asked  one  who  was  present 
"What  was  his  profession?"  "An  artist."  "I 
too  am  an  artist."  "Ah!"  quoth  the  stranger,  in 
surprise.  "I  paint  with  words,"  said  the  gifted 
preacher.  But  some  may  reply,  "Did  not  the 
apostle  declare,  'And  my  speech  and  my  preach- 
ing was  not  with  enticing  words  of  man's  wisdom? ' " 
True,  but  he  did  not  mean  that  the  ministry  should 
make  no  effort  at  adornment  in  style,  but  that 
pretty  language  should  not  be  the  end  and  object 
of  discourse.  Paul  would  disclaim  against  collect- 
ing Chinese  apothegms,  striking  proverbs,  and 
classic  quotations  simply  for  the  purpose  of  tick- 
ling the  ears  of  those  who  hear.  We  are  not  to 
adorn  the  body  of  the  sermon  so  that  men  will 
forget  that  there  is  a  living  soul  within  the  form  of 
words.  We  are  not  to  preach  rhetoric,  but  we 
may  use  rhetoric  in  preaching.  If  our  style  leads 
men  to  forget  the  cross  and  think  only  of  the  flow- 
ers in  the  pulpit,  then  our  work  is  a  failure,  but  if 
we  can  attract  men  to  Christ  by  the  choice  use  of 
words,  then  we  have  fulfilled  our  mission.  Speak- 
ing in  language  too  elegant  is  not  a  snare  into- 


112  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

which  the  European  who  talks  Chinese  is  Hkely  to 
faU. 

We  must  preach  simply.  One  of  the  greatest 
difficulties  is  to  appreciate  the  profound  ignorance 
of  those  whom  we  address,  especially  in  the  domain 
of  rehgion.  "  Darkness  shall  cover  the  earth  and 
gross  darkness  the  people."  If  we  inquire  into 
their  attainments  in  geography,  an  educated  man 
is  quite  satisfied  if  he  knows  that  America  has  a 
city  called  New  York,  a  region  denominated  "The 
Golden  Mountains,"  and  formerly  a  great  man 
named  Washington.  The  first  question  in  the 
infant  catechism,  "Who  made  you?"  puzzles 
philosophers  and  sages.  We  make  a  speciahty 
in  the  high  and  low  sounds  of  this  "great  tonal 
tongue,"  of  the  monosyllabic  idioms  and  of  the 
rhythm  of  language,  but  no  less  should  we  aim  at 
perspicuity  in  thought,  and  lucidity  in  the  form  of 
its  presentation.  It  is  the  highest  mark  of  the 
ability  of  a  teacher  to  state  profound  truths  in  a 
simple  way.  We  once  saw  a  specialist  in  Natural 
History  teach  orally  a  number  of  children  at  the 
table  the  difficult  nomenclature  of  the  science,  by 
giving  some  felicitous  handle  by  which  they  might 
grasp  each  term.  Compare  the  literary  effi^rts  of 
one  who  has  been  on  the  field  five  or  ten  years,  in 
his  translations  of  western  theological  works,  and 


The  Style  of  Peeachixg.  113 

the  simjDle  primers  in  Christian  truth  the  same 
missionary  gives  to  the  church  after  an  experience 
of  five  and  twenty  years. 

We  are  to  preach  appropriately.  Our  Saviour 
said,  '^  Therefore  every  scribe  which  is  instructed 
unto  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  is  like  unto  a 
man  that  is  a  householder  which  bringeth  forth 
out  of  his  treasure  things  new  and  old."  The 
preparation  for  the  home  pulpit  is  made  in  the 
study,  though  many  bright  thoughts  come  to  the 
extempore  speaker  during  the  time  of  delivery.  The 
very  motionlessness  of  the  audience  requires  him 
to  draw  on  his  own  resources,  but  with  an  ever  vary- 
ing congregation  it  is  easy  to  find  a  fulcrum  for 
the  lever,  or  a  pin  on  which  to  hang  an  illustra- 
tion. There  are  so  many  sights  and  sounds  which 
suggest  thoughts  that  are  "as  goads  and  as  nails 
fastened  by  the  masters  of  assembhes."  The 
preacher  must  be  ever  ready  to  take  advantage  of 
every  fehcitous  event  to  turn  it  to  good  account. 
The  springing  rice,  an  emblem  of  the  first  blades 
of  grace  in  the  heart ;  the  golden  grain,  ripe  for  the 
sickle,  a  symbol  of  "gathering  in  the  sheaves"; 
the  setting  sun  suggests  a  sermon  to  the  old;  the 
postman,  who  comes  in  the  chapel,  reminds  the 
hearers  of  the  gospel  messenger  with  a  letter  from 
the  Heavenly   Father;  the  burden-bearer  of   the 


114  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

words  of  him  who  said,  "  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that 
are  weary  and  heavy  laden";  the  merchant  col- 
lecting bills,  of  our  settlement  at  the  day  of  final 
accounts ;  the  clanking  chains  of  the  passing  pri- 
soner tell  us  that  we  are  all  criminals.  Starting  on 
a  direct  line  the  speaker  must  be  ready  to  vary  his 
discourse  so  as  to  adapt  it  to  every  passing  occa- 
sion, just  as  the  boatman  shifts  his  sails  with  the 
changing  breeze  or  curving  canal,  or  as  he  guides 
so  skillfully  his  Httle  barque  as  it  shoots  around 
the  sharp  angles  in  the  rapids.  He  leaves  his  first 
topic  just  as  a  party  of  us  in  the  Mammoth  Cave, 
arriving  at  the  river  and  finding  it  rising  so  rapidly 
that,  did  we  cross,  a  safe  return  could  not  be  in- 
sured, left  the  main  course  and  turned  into  a  side 
passage  to  behold  some  of  the  greatest  wonders 
which  are  hidden  beneath  the  surface  of  the 
ground.  Our  sermons  must  at  times  be  Hke  the 
shifting,  varying  reflections  of  the  kaleidoscope, 
but,  hke  this  simple  instrument,  they  must  always 
reflect  a  beautiful  picture. 

Again,  in  preaching,  it  is  important  for  our 
thoughts  to  run  in  native  channels.  Here  must  be 
undone  much  of  the  systematic  teaching  of  our 
western  schools,  or  rather  we  must  adapt  our  learn- 
ing and  our  logic  to  the  circumstances  by  which 
we  are  surrounded,  so  that  instead  of  the  railway 


The  Style  of  Peeachixg.  115 

or  steamer,  we  must  travel  by  native  boat  in  the 
native  waters.  There  are  Chinese  channels  of 
thought,  and  in  these  our  discourse  must  run; 
there  are  intellectual  pathways,  and  on  these  our 
minds  must  travel.  We  are  not  to  despise  the 
ditch-bank  and  compare  it  with  the  turnpike,  for 
on  this  narrow  causeway,  water  on  one  side  and 
mire  on  the  other,  millions  of  men  have  trod. 
The  idiom  of  thought  is  a  most  difficult  acquisition, 
but  by  constant  mental  intercourse  with  men  and 
books,  we  may  obtain  it.  This  is  the  key  to  the 
lock  of  their  understanding.  Eevolve  in  their 
orbits  and  there  is  no  friction.  Note  in  the 
Dream  of  the  Bed  Chamber  the  description  of  a 
rich  man's  house,  not  the  green  sward,  royal  oaks, 
and  stately  mansion,  but  horses  at  the  door,  sedans 
in  an  adjoining  apaii:ment,  the  side  entrance  for 
the  servants,  the  multitude  of  ahmahs,  the  vege- 
tables for  the  kitchen,  and  all  the  incidentals  of  a 
well-ordered  household.  Why  tell  of  the  prodi- 
gal in  Judea,  when  hundreds  of  fathers  in  this 
city  long  for  the  retui-n  of  spendthrift  sons  fi'om 
Shanghai?  Why  talk  of  Grecian  games  within 
sight  of  the  examination  hall  where  the  candidates 
seek  for  the  ''corruptible  crown"?  In  what  land 
can  we  better  explain  the  "wicked  husbandmen" 
than  here,  where  many  try  to  evade  paying  the 


116  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

"rent  rice"  ?  We  must  study  our  illustrations  and 
jot  down  in  a  pocket  note-book  every  new  line  of 
thought.  "We  are  not  to  bring  our  illustrations 
from  a  western  land.  It  is  not  necessary  to  import 
our  rice  from  Charleston  or  our  sugar  from  New 
Orleans.  To  patronize  the  native  market  is  bet- 
ter. 

In  preaching,  the  illustrations  must  be  exact,  or 
the  Chinese  will  never  catch  the  idea.  They  are 
bright  enough  if  you  tell  it  their  way,  but  their 
imaginations  will  not  follow  us  beyond  the  sea  to 
the  scenes  of  our  childhood.  It  is  easy,  by  the 
blank  expression  on  their  faces,  to  tell  that  the 
speaker  has  failed  to  convey  the  idea.  To  illus- 
trate how  Christ  suffered  in  our  stead,  I  often  spoke 
of  the  two  brothers  in  school,  the  elder  dihgent, 
the  younger  lazy,  and  when  the  latter  was  about 
to  be  punished  by  the  teacher,  the  elder  brother 
took  his  place  and  stood  in  a  corner  of  the  room 
for  an  hour.  It  never  seemed  to  me  the  hearers 
appreciated  the  truth  which  I  desired  to  present. 
One  day,  in  a  native  school,  I  saw  a  boy  kneeling 
at  a  bench.  By  changing  "standing"  to  "kneel- 
ing" it  fit  like  the  lead  in  a  mold.  We  must  hit 
the  target  or  the  winged  arrow  fails  in  its  flight. 
Some  years  ago  I  had  my  teacher  write  about  the 
young  Huguenot  taking  his  father's  place  at  the 


The  Style  of  Preaching.  117 

galleys  for  six  years.  He  said,  ''I  see  your  mean- 
ing; you  wish  to  illustrate  substitution,  but  the 
people  will  never  catch  your  idea;  they  will  say, 
*  Oh !  yes,  how  fihal  he  was.'  "  It  is  w^ell  to  test  the 
gun  before  taking  it  to  the  scene  of  action. 
.  We  must  preach  sloivly ;  not  talk  slowly,  but 
restrain  our  imagination  and  not  let  it  fly  at  the 
sjDsed  of  a  lightning-express.  The  Chinese  are 
not  accustomed  to  the  western  style  of  pubhc 
speaking  as  is  heard  in  the  pulpit  and  in  pohti- 
cal  meetings,  they  cannot  follow  a  rapid  train  of 
thought.  As  the  natives  say,  "  Slowly,  slowly,  go." 
The  story-teller  in  the  tea-shop  alone  carries  on 
the  several  parts  of  a  dialogue,  and  mth  his  voice 
delineates  the  scenes  which  in  the  Occident  re- 
quire several  actors.  He  does  not  narrate  his 
story  in  an  unbroken  strain,  but  asks  a  question 
and  answers  it  himself.  This  double  method  of 
conversation,  like  the  double-entry  method  in 
book-keeping,  secures  absolute  accuracy, — the  rule 
is  to  say  everything  twice,  first  in  the  form  of 
interrogation  and  then  in  reply.  This  idiom  is 
manifest  in  all  Old  Testament  narratives,  where 
the  writers  take  twice  as  long  to  detail  an  event  as 
in  our  modern  writings.  The  bibhcal  style  is  the 
model  for  preachers  in  Asia;  study  it,  imitate  it. 
The  original  is  a  pattern  perfect  in  its  conception 


118  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

and  literary  execution.  The  Jewish  writers  living 
before  the  time  of  Confucius,  furnish  us  with  the 
fashion  plates  of  the  modern  Chinese  vernacu- 
lar. 

Again,  the  truth  must  be  preached  clearly  and 
distinctly.  The  Chinese  are  not  accustomed  to 
our  methods  of  reasoning,  or  our  logical  processes. 
They  move  in  a  circle,  as  the  buffalo  at  the  water- 
pum]D,  and  we  must  patiently  instil  the  truth  into 
their  minds  and  allow  them  to  get  one  idea  clearly 
before  we  present  another.  "For  precept  must  be 
u.pon  precept,  precept  upon  precept;  line  upon 
line,  Hue  upon  line;  here  a  little  and  there  a  little." 
Foreigners  often  get  irritated  with  servants  for  their 
apparent  stupidity,  whereas  it  is  the  fault  of  the  one 
who  gives  the  orders.  We  are  to  give  our  instruc- 
tions minutely :  "  Go  down  the  street.  At  the  first 
corner  turn  to  the  left.  You  will  come  to  a  bridge. 
Do  not  cross  the  bridge.  Go  to  the  right  till  you 
come  to  a  Zamen  with  two  flag-posts.  Then  at  the 
cross-street  go  southwards.  Do  you  understand  ?  " 
"Yes."  "You  will  come  to  an  open  space  with 
some  trees.  That  is  not  where  I  send  you.  Go 
further  on  till  you  come  to  a  tea-shop ;  it  is  a  very 
large  one  with  a  tiger  furnace  facing  the  west.  Just 
opposite  is  the  chapel  I  want  you  to  go  to."  "  Oh  • 
yes,  I  know,  I  can  find  it,"  and  the  man  will  not 


The  Style  of  Preaching.  119 

miss  your  instructions.  Our  directions  to  the  trav- 
eller journeying  to  tlie  gates  of  tlie  Celestial  city 
must  be  equally  explicit. 

Another  important  point  is  not  in  the  first  in- 
stance to  state  abstract  truths,  but  to  approach  the 
subject  in  the  natural  hue  of  thought.  Ask  an  old 
•woman,  "Have  you  a  soul?"  and  ten  to  one  she 
will  reply,  "No."  Mention  that  the  peox)le  all  say 
they  have  "three  souls  and  six  spirits,"  and  inquire 
if  this  is  the  case.  "Oh,  yes,  every  one  has  three 
souls  and  six  spirits."  Then  you  may  point  out 
the  error,  and  instil  the  truth. 

In  preaching,  we  must  occasionally  let  the  minds 
of  the  audience  rest.  Stop  and  talk  on  any  com- 
mon point,  and  the  faces  before  us  will  immedi- 
ately brighten.  "Yesterday  I  went  to  the  country. 
I  took  a  boat.  We  passed  do^oi  the  canal,  and 
through  a  bridge.  The  rice-fields  looked  green 
and  beautiful.  On  the  right  bank  were  pHes  of 
water-jars.  Soon  to  the  left  the  hills  were  in  sight. 
Then  we  came  to  Mohdoh.  '  Old  man,  have  you 
ever  been  to  Mohdoh?'  'Yes,  yes.'  *Well,  then, 
you  know  all  about  it.'  I  met  a  man,  and  asked 
him  the  way  up  the  mountain.  We  walked  along 
the  road  together,  and  passed  a  grave.  I  said, 
'My  friend,  do  you  know  that  the  dead  shall 
rise  ? '  "     This  whole  preamble,  or  verbal  ramble, 


120  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

is  totally  irrelevant,  but  the  hearers  are  on  the  qui 
vive  to  know  what  is  coming. 

In  addi'essing  those  whom  we  meet,  we  are  not 
to  rush  on  them  too  suddenly.  Accosting  a  stran- 
ger, we  are  not  to  shout,  "There  is  one  God  and 
one  Mediator!"  We  occasionally  speak  to  stran- 
gers who  say  they  cannot  understand ;  so  fully  are 
they  convinced  that  we  are  speaking  in  a  European 
language,  that  they  cannot  understand  their  mo- 
ther tongue.  "My  friend,  where  is  your  honora- 
ble residence  ?  "  "Waseih."  "In  the  city  or  the 
country  ?  "  "  Country."  "  How  far  from  Waseih  ?  " 
"Twenty  lee.''  "What  is  your  high  longevity?" 
" Very  Httle."  "Well,  how  many  years ?  "  " Sixty- 
four."  "How  many  sons  have  you?"  "Two." 
"What  are  their  ages?"  "Twenty-six  and 
eighteen."  "The  eldest  is  married,  I  suppose; 
you  have  a  daughter-in-law,  have  you  not?" 
"Yes."  "Any  grandchildren?"  "A  grandson." 
"I  congratulate  you."  "I  am  unworthy."  "Are 
you  staying  now  at  an  inn,  or  with  a  friend?" 
"With  a  friend."  "Near  your  home  are  there  any 
temples  ?  "  "  Oh,  yes,  many."  ''  What  are  they  ?  " 
"The  god  of  agriculture  and  the  goddess  of 
mercy."  "Any  gods  of  the  district  ?  "  "  Plenty 
of  them."  "Do  the  people  burn  incense?" 
"Every   first   and   fifteenth  of  the  moon."     "My 


The  Style  of  Preaching.  121 

aged  friend,  do  you  know  tliat  idolatry  is  a  great 
sin?  "  "What!"  You  have  this  old  man  caught 
in  the  meshes  of  the  gospel  net,  and  his  mind  is 
prepared  to  hear  the  first  truths  of  theology.  Take 
the  last*  chapter  of  John  as  the  model  of  oriental 
discourse.  Jesus  waited  till  their  hunger  was 
satisfied,  then  conversed  about  love.  Study  the 
details  as  they  are  so  simply  given,  and  see  how 
circumstantial  the  historian  is.  The  whole  of  the 
fourth  Gospel  is  a  beautiful  specimen  of  eastern 
hterature,  and  the  missionary  is  wise  to  imitate 
the  Johannine  style. 

The  first  great  essential  is  to  wake  them  from 
the  slumbers  of  four  thousand  years,  and  to  sound 
the  gospel  alarm,  "Awake,  thou  that  sleepest, 
and  arise  from  the  dead,  and  Christ  will  give  thee 
light."  The  people  must  be  aroused  from  their 
lethargy  and  death-torpor.  We  come  with  the 
message  that  there  are  three  great  roads— the 
heavenly  road,  the  human  road,  and  the  road  of 
devils;  that  they  have  the  two  last,  but  not  the 
first,  and  we  beseech  them  to  leave  the  third,  and 
to  walk  in  the  way  of  heaven.  They  are  accus- 
tomed to  exhortations  to  virtue,  and  conceive  of 
us  only  as  teachers  of  morality.  A  resident  at  the 
port,  speaking  with  me  about  preaching,  said,  "Of 
course  you  never  say  anything  to  offend  them." 
11 


122  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

■"Well,  sir,"  was  the  reply,  "if  we  did  not,  we 
;  would  never  get  an  idea  into  tlieir  heads."  It  will 
ifever  remain,  "the  offence  of  the  cross."  They 
[listen,  and  say,  "Oh,  yes,  honor  father  and  mo- 
ther; worship  heaven  and  earth."  Not  that  the 
message  has  not  been  pointedly  delivered,  but  be- 
cause they  are  preoccupied  with  the  idea  that 
there  is  nothing  else  besides  father  and  mother, 
heaven  and  earth.  It  requires  a  shock  from  an 
electric  battery  to  convince  them  that  we  have  a 
higher  message.  I  used  to  be  troubled  by  hearing 
men  who  had  listened  to  a  discourse  walk  com- 
placently out  of  the  chapel,  saying,  "  Oh,  yes,  all 
the  same,  worship  heaven  and  earth";  but  very 
seldom  these  last  years,  for  whenever  heaven  and 
earth  are  mentioned  I  act,  so  to  speak,  like  Paul 
and  Barnabas  at  Lystra,  when  "they  rent  their 
clothes,  and  ran  in  among  the  people";  and  so 
I  shout,  "Wickedness!  Wickedness!!  Wicked- 
ness ! ! ! "  They  are  dead  to  spiritual  things,  and 
wiU  through  a  sermon  mentally  sleep  with  their 
eyes  open,  unless  they  are  awakened  as  it  were 
"with  the  voice  of  the  archangel,  and  with  the 
trump  of  God."  Satan  has  administered  opiates, 
and  the  case  requires  heroic  treatment.  They  lie 
softly  upon  their  beds  while  the  flames  roll  around. 
Our  preaching  must  be  as  if  the  earth  were  quak- 


The  Style  of  Preaching.  123 

ing  beneath  their  feet.  We  must  cry,  yea,  cry 
aloud,  "Hear,"  oli,  China!  "  The  Lord  our  God  is 
one  Lord!" 

Yet  at  the  same  time  we  are  to  be  courteous, 
and  to  use  every  fehcitous  method  of  address  that 
will  enlist  their  sympathy.  The  Chinese  excel  in 
poHteness,  and  shall  we  neglect  to  be  gentle  and 
affable,  and  by  our  courtesy  try  to  mn  them  ?  A 
short  time  since,  a  native  preacher  from  a  neigh- 
boring chapel  said,  "All  on  the  streets  are  busy 
collecting  their  debts,  but  I  would  infer  from  the 
happy  expression  on  the  faces  of  the  audience  that 
you  have  all  settled  your  accounts  at  the  close  of 
the  year."  We  can  always  remark,  "Do  not  get 
angry  if  I  say  something  to  you."  "  Certainly  not, 
speak;  I  will  be  only  too  happy  to  listen;"  and 
we  can  then  talk  with  impunity  about  their  most 
sacred  institutions. 

AYe  note  that  the  Chinese  in  conversation,  from 
politeness,  always  "take  the  lowest  seat."  If  then, 
in  illustration,  one  of  the  parties  is  bad  and  the 
other  good,  one  rich  and  the  other  poor,  one  the 
judge  and  the  other  the  prisoner,  should  it  be  de- 
sirable to  use  "I"  and  "you,"  always  let  the 
speaker  be  the  inferior  and  the  hearer  the  su- 
perior. In  this  way  the  good-will  of  an  audience 
may  be  secured  and  nothing  lost  in  the  effect  the 


124  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

sermon  will  produce.  Another  method  of  preach- 
ing is  "to  tell  how  we  do."  How  we  daily  pray ; 
our  family  prayers ;  our  Sunday  services ;  how  the 
Sabbath  is  kept  in  Christian  lands,  and  everything 
in  connection  with  the  church.  This  is  an  unfail- 
ing source  of  interest,  and  to  preaching  in  this 
style  they  cannot  possibly  take  exceptions. 

We  are  to  unfailingly  insist  upon  our  creden- 
tials, that  we  are  sent,  not  as  they  foolishly  think, 
by  a  foreign  emperor,  but  by  the  King  of  kings. 
Though  we  have  no  apostolic  signs  and  wonders, 
we  can  testify  what  Christianity  has  done  for  the 
nations  which  have  accepted  its  teachings.  In 
this  city,  residing  on  High  Market  street,  is  a  ven- 
erable Confucian  preacher,  now  fourscore,  who 
preaches  two  or  three  times  a  month  in  the 
temples  or  open  courts.  A  table  with  a  red  cover 
hanging  in  front  is  mounted  on  two  chairs,  and  on 
this  lie  his  manuscripts.  Dressed  in  satin  robe 
and  boots,  and  standing  on  another  chair,  he 
speaks  to  the  forty  or  fifty  who  gather  around. 
The  gist  of  his  orations  is  that  certain  who  com- 
mitted crimes  or  were  guilty  of  great  wrongs  re- 
ceived the  due  reward  for  their  evil  deeds  from 
heaven.  Some  of  these  incidents,  or  rather  most 
of  them,  would  be  too  coarse  for  a  European  audi- 
ence.    He   speaks   with   much    deliberation,    and 


The  Style  of  Preaching.  125 

always  begins  by  giving  the  name  of  the  party,  the 
place  in  which  and  the  year  when  he  hved.  This 
particularization  in  the  details  and  presenting 
proofs  for  the  statements  are  evidently  sugges- 
tions for  preachers  of  the  gospel. 

Another  mode  of  oral  address,  and  the  most 
effective  one  is  talking  versus  haranguing ;  to 
adopt  the  "  conversational,  catechetical  or  Socratic 
method."  This  requires  long  and  careful  training 
and  much  practice,  but  opportunities  must  be 
sought  for  and  improved.  Some  missionaries  can 
deliver  a  whole  discourse  by  questioning  the  audi- 
ence and  securing  suitable  replies.  Sitting  on  the 
back  of  a  bench  and  talking  on  spiritual  subjects 
to  thirty  or  forty  who  are  gathered  near,  ten  times 
as  much  truth  will  be  conveyed  as  by  an  ordinary 
discourse.  The  difficulty  is  to  find  a  good  ques- 
tioner. Again,  they  will  start  on  rehgion  and  wish 
to  pass  to  other  topics  and  ask  irrelevant  ques- 
tions about  foreign  civiHzation  or  the  price  of 
articles  of  dress,  but  when  they  ask  about  religion 
this  method  of  preaching  secures  fixedness  of 
attention  and  receptivity  of  the  truth.  "When  a 
number  are  fully  interested,  we  may  step  upon  the 
platform  and  speak  with  power.  Truly  we  are  to 
be  all  things  to  all  men  and  all  occasions,  and 
always  to  do  the  best  we  can,  and  when  talking  in 


126  PREACHINa  IN  SiNIM. 

the  chapel  or  on  the  street,  moraentarily  seek  for 
divine  guidance.  We  are  not  invariably  to  follow 
the  rule,  "To  speak  to  a  scholar  as  to  a  scholar, 
and  to  a  peasant  as  to  a  peasant,"  for  we  must 
remember  that  in  theology  the  one  is  as  ignorant 
as  the  other,  and  what  suits  the  one  will  be 
adapted  to  the  other,  and  from  experience  I  can 
say  that  the  scholars  at  the  examinations  listen  to 
the  most  elementary  truths  with  much  interest. 
The  philosopher  and  the  cooHe  must  alike  sit  at 
the  feet  of  Jesus. 

We  notice  that  the  Chinese  in  talking,  when 
they  are  speaking  on  a  topic  which,  they  judge, 
might  be  unpleasant,  state  the  converse,  and  leave 
the  hearer  to  make  the  apphcation.  This  is  a  fine 
way  to  state  truth,  and,  if  done  with  skill,  no  peo- 
ple are  more  ready  to  see  the  point  and  to  apply  it 
personally  to  themselves.  They  leave  unsaid  what 
we  wish  specially  to  say.  It  is  beautifully  illus- 
trated in  the  tender  reply  of  Cushi  to  David,  when 
he  asked,  "Is  the  young  man  Absalom  safe?" 
"The  enemies  of  my  lord  the  king,  and  all  that 
rise  against  thee  to  do  thee  hurt,  be  as  that  young 
man  is." 

We  have  not  only  to  learn  the  language,  but  our 
voices  must  be  trained.  Elocution  must  be  a  pro- 
minent department  in  missionary  culture.     Many 


The  Style  oe  Peeachino.  127 

of  tlie  story-tellers  along  the  streets  would  be 
awarded  medals  for  the  naturalness  with  which 
they  imitate  all  classes.  So  much  accustomed  are 
the  Chinese  to  their  historical  plays  and  tea-shop 
recitations,  that  it  comes  almost  second  nature 
with  most  of  them  to  change  the  tones  of  their 
voices  as  they  repeat  what  others  say.  The  voice 
is  given  us  to  attract  men  to  Christ.  The  cry  of  a 
beggar  wakes  up  a  congregation.  The  hawkers  on 
the  street  arouse  their  attention.  The  cry  of  the 
drowning  sailor,  "Save  hfe!  Save  life!"  brings 
them  face  to  face  with  the  grave.  On  my  desk  lay 
a  manuscript  about  the  riot  at  Ephesus.  A  Yamen 
secretary  in  the  study  picked  it  up,  and  read  the 
speech  of  the  town  clerk,  or  wei-yuen^  imitating  to 
perfection  a  mandarin  as  he  speaks  to  his  runners. 
This  almost  every  Chinaman  can  do.  I  heard  a 
senior  missionary,  in  relating  an  anecdote,  imitate 
the  pompous  official,  and  in  the  next  sentence  the 
obsequiousness  of  the  servant.  This  may  be  done 
in  the  pulpit  so  as  to  be  ridiculous ;  again,  the  in- 
flections of  the  voice  may  carry  conviction  to 
many  a  heart.  We  must  speak  with  pathos,  look- 
ing unto  the  rock  whence  we  are  hewn,  and  the 
hole  of  the  pit  whence  we  are  digged.  Never  once 
excite  a  laugh,  or  the  spiritual  effect  is  lost. 

At  times  truth  is  best  conveyed  by  the  eye,  and 


128  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

so  the  blackboard,  tlie  whiteboard,  or  scrolls  may 
be  successfully  introduced.  The  text  or  topic  with 
the  principal  thoughts  written,  and  the  comments 
sjDoken,  may  be  ''sharper  than  a  two-edged  sword, 
piercing  even  to  the  dividing  asunder  of  soul  and 
spirit."  The  Chinese  use  their  characters  so  much 
for  ornament,  as  on  their  sign-boards,  or  for  wall- 
pictures,  that  this  effective  method  may  be  well 
utilized. 

We  may  go  back  three  thousand  years,  and 
listen  to  the  words  of  the  wise  man:  "Because 
the  preacher  was  wise,  he  still  taught  the  people 
knowledge;  yea,  he  gave  good  heed,  and  sought 
out  and  set  in  order  many  proverbs.  The  preacher 
sought  to  find  out  acceptable  words."  The  mis- 
sionary must  seek  for  acceptahle  words — "  illustra- 
tion, proverb,  quotation,  interrogation,  classical 
sayings."  It  is  not  to  offer  unto  the  Lord  that 
which  costs  nothing  mentally.  As  long  as  we  live, 
each  day  special  efforts  must  be  put  forth  to  pre- 
sent the  truth  so  as  to  constrain  men  to  accept  the 
gospel.  "  With  such  a  theme,  let  every  power  of 
the  imagination,  every  facihty  of  expression,  every 
gift  of  utterance,  be  enhsted  and  employed."  To 
show  how  the  man  of  God,  to  the  end  of  his  days, 
must  exercise  himself  in  preparing  for  a  heathen 
audience,  the  venerable  Eev.  WiUiam  Muiihead, 


The  Style  of  Peeaching.  129 

the  preacliing  apostle  of  mid-Cliina,  the  ''old  man 
eloquent,"  who  for  nearly  a  half-century  has  so 
fervently  delivered  his  message  daily,  and  usually 
many  times  a  day,  recently  said:  "I  have  been 
astonished  beyond  measure  at  the  wonderful  num- 
ber of  hearers  with  which  I  have  been  favored  in 
the  old  Union  Chapel.  It  is  well  situated,  and 
especially  at  night  crowds  are  passing  to  and  fro, 
who  are  easily  attracted.  Altogether,  it  is  a  mag- 
nificent sphere  for  missionary  work,  and  the  bur- 
den on  my  soul  is  that  of  souls  and  liow  most 
suitably  to  address  the  multitudes^ 


CHAPTEE   X. 

Natural  Theology. 

¥E  now  pass  from  the  how  to  the  what,  from 
the  7na7i7ier  to  the  matter  of  discourse.  The 
preparation  for  the  work  and  the  style  of  preach- 
ing are  very  insignificant  compared  with  the 
subject-matter.  Again  comes  the  question,  "Where 
do  we  find  ourselves?"  The  answer  is  returned, 
"  Amidst  one  of  the  most  idolatrous  nations  in  the 
world."  The  great  theme  for  the  missionary  is 
theology.  It  may  be  asked,  "  Did  not  the  apostle 
to  the  Gentiles  say,  '"We  preach  Christ  crucified,* 
and  shall  we  not  simply  preach  of  Jesus  and  his 
love?"  A  glance  at  the  fourteen  epistles  of  Paul 
and  the  range  of  topics  discussed  within  shows 
that  he  uses  the  term  "Christ  crucified"  as  the 
formula  for  the  whole  of  revelation,  giving  special 
prominence  to  the  doctrines  of  the  blood.  To  the 
countries  where  the  apostle  travelled,  the  Jews 
had  already  gone  and  built  synagogues,  and  it  was 
known  throughout  the  Eoman  Empire  that  there 
was  a  strange  sect  which  held  to  theism  in  the 
midst  of  abounding  polytheism.  In  China  we 
have  had  no  forerunners.  The  fundamental  doc- 
trine in  reference  to  Christ  is  that  he  is  the  Son  of 

130 


Natural  Theology.  131 

God.  If  a  Mongolian,  like  tlie  Ethiopian,  con- 
fesses tliat  Jesus  is  the  Son  of  God,  he  is  immedi- 
ately baptized.  Before  we  can  preach  about  the 
Son  of  God  we  must  let  the  people  know  who  God 
is.  To  set  forth  the  divinity  of  Christ  we  must 
first  declare  the  "I  Am."  The  beginning  of 
religious  knowledge  is  to  know  God.  We  cannot 
progress  one  step  till  we  have  settled  the  first, 
chief  and  great  problem  in  divine  science.  The 
Gospels  of  Moses  and  John  begin  respectively, 
*'In  the  beginning  was  God,"  "In  the  beginning 
was  the  Word."  The  devoted  WiUiam  Burns 
criticized  the  preaching  of  some  missionaries  that 
it  was  too  evangelical,  that  is,  they  did  not  dwell 
sufficiently  at  first  upon  the  evidences  of  Christi- 
anity. After  this  they  were  to  go  forward  with 
the  great  truths  of  salvation  and  make  every  dis- 
course point  to  Christ  as  the  spokes  to  the  axle. 

Our  task  in  answering  the  question,  "What  is 
God?"  so  that  a  heathen  may  comprehend  that 
"God  is  a  spirit,  infinite,  eternal  and  unchange- 
able in  his  being,  wisdom,  power,  holiness,  justice, 
goodness  and  truth,"  is  a  gigantic  one.  Take  the 
Princeton  theologian  as  he  stood  upon  the  mount 
of  illumination,  and  his  work  was  as  nothing  to 
ours.  There  sat  in  his  lecture-room  men  who  had 
college    diplomas,   were  masters   of    several   Ian- 


132  Pbeaching  in  Sinim. 

guages,  and  who  accepted  the  Eevelation,  so  the 
teacher  could  di'aw  from  wells  older  than  Jacob's 
and  from  the  newly  discovered  springs  of  know- 
ledge, a  school  of  young  philosophers  with  the 
gates  of  faith  and  intellect  all  open.  What  have 
we?  Ignorant  idolaters.  There  are  only  a  few 
narrow  passes  by  which  we  can  approach  the 
ancient  citidel  of  superstition.  Shall  we  come  first 
with  the  Bible  as  a  witness  and  state  its  teachings 
about  God?  The  people  know  not  the  Scriptures 
and  accept  not  their  testimony.  What  then  is  the 
basis  of  reHgious  teaching  in  a  heathen  land  ? 
The  apostle  says,  "For  when  the  Gentiles,  which 
have  not  the  law,  do  by  nature  the  things  con- 
tained in  the  law,  these  having  not  the  law  are  a 
law  unto  themselves :  which  shew  the  work  of  the 
law  written  in  their  hearts,  their  conscience  also 
bearing  witness,  and  their  thoughts  the  meanwhile 
accusing  or  else  excusing  one  another."  The  Hght 
of  nature  and  the  teachings  of  conscience  are  not 
obscure,  for  Paul  says,  ''The  invisible  things  of 
him  from  the  creation  of  the  world  are  clearly 
seen,  being  understood  by  the  things  that  are 
made,  even  his  eternal  power  and  godhead." 

The  first  inquiry  that  presents  itself  is,  Is  there 
a  God  ?  Gather  in  one  mighty  assembly  all  the 
gentry  of   China — the  scholars,  the  philosophers, 


Natural  Theology.  133 

the  sages,  the  wise  men — and  propound  the  ques- 
tion, Is  there  a  God?  and  there  will  be  the  silence 
of  the  grave.  Examine  the  tomes  of  antiquity, 
search  the  volumes  which  fill  imperial  libraries 
and  we  obtain  no  answer.  Let  the  three  rehgious 
systems,  which  have  existed  from  two  thousand  to 
four  thousand  years,  marshal  theii*  votaries,  and 
what  answer  is  given?  Confucianism  does  not 
consider  the  question  of  the  origin  of  the  universe, 
Buddhism  says  boldly  and  decidedly  there  was  no 
Creator,  while  Taoism  is  too  busy  with  spirits  and 
demons  even  to  consider  the  question.  To  apj)eal 
to  these  cults  is  like  addressing  an  audience  of  the 
deaf,  dumb,  and  bhnd.  There  is,  however,  a  fee- 
ble response  when  we  appeal  to  individual  hearts 
and  consciences.  We  bid  them  look  at  their  own 
souls ;  with  the  soul  there  is  life ;  without  it,  they 
say,  a  man  is  dead.  They  are  conscious  of  the 
domain  of  spirit  over  their  own  bodies;  why 
should  they  not  search  for  the  Great  Spirit  that 
rules  the  universe  ?  The  soul  of  man  reflects  the 
image  of  the  Creator,  just  as  a  glass  of  water  the 
shining  sun.  If  there  be  not  the  great  "Father  of 
spirits,"  whence  come  our  spirits?  Or  consider 
the  immortal  mind,  which  in  imagination  can 
travel   so   far,   in   reasoning   can   climb    to    such 

heights,  in  breadth  can  feel  such  extremes  of  joy 
12 


134  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

and  sorrow — may  we  not  think  tliere  is  an  infinite 
mind  which  controls  heaven  and  earth?  Or 
memory,  so  surprisingly  developed  by  the  Chinese 
system  of  education,  the  storehouse  in  which  are 
laid  u]3  the  treasures  of  knowledge;  where  is  the 
source  of  this  wonderful  faculty  ?  Whence  cometh 
man's  moral  nature?  Does  not  conscience,  the 
invisible  monitor  that  tells  of  right  and  wrong, 
point  upward  to  an  infinite  source  of  moral  ac- 
tion? An  unanswerable  argument  is  man's  re- 
ligious nature.  TraveUing  over  the  earth,  no  mat- 
ter to  what  clime  we  go,  or  what  the  condition  of 
the  race,  men  engage  in  the  worship  of  a  Being  or 
of  beings  higher  than  themselves.  Our  religious 
nature  demands  an  object  of  love  and  reverence, 
who  can  hear  our  confessions,  praises,  and  pray- 
ers, and  supply  all  our  wants.  Again,  why  do 
men  look  to  God,  or  the  gods,  when  they  are  sick? 
Why  this  visiting  the  temples,  and  supplicating 
the  favor  of  the  gods  for  those  who  are  racked 
with  pain  ?  Does  not  the  cry  of  helpless  human- 
ity point  to  One  who  can  help  ?  The  seventh  ar- 
gument is  drawn  from  the  existence  of  the  false. 
What  is  the  counterfeit  but  an  imitation  of  the 
true?  Are  not  the  tin-foil  dollars,  selUng  at  three 
cents  per  one  hundred  dollars,  to  be  burnt  for  the 
dead,  fac-similes   of  the  silver  dollars?     Are  not 


Natural  Theology.  135 

the  million  false  deities  a  witness  of  the  One  hving 
and  true  God?  Looking  at  man's  moral,  intellect- 
ual, and  spiritual  nature,  the  conclusion  is  irresist- 
ible, that  it  is  only  the  fool  that  "hath  said  in  his 
heart.  There  is  no  God." 

From  this  the  erring  "offspring  of  God"  may  be 
led  to  read  the  book  of  nature,  and  to  consider 
the   relations   of   the   great   God  to  the  universe 
about  us.     The  important  study  for  the  mission- 
ary is,  by  careful  analysis,  to  find  out  what  the 
Chinese  know,   and   to   make   this   the   basis   for 
aro-ument.     To  go  beyond  these,  data  may  be  in- 
structive to  the  hearers,  but  the  spiritual  train  of 
thought  is  lost,  and  what  was  designed  for  a  theo- 
logical  discourse   becomes  a  lecture   on   science. 
As  they  consider  the  pupil  of  the  eye  simply  color, 
it  would  utterly  bewilder  their  minds  to  tell  them 
it  is  a  window  to  let  in  the  light.     If  we  preach  on 
Jesus,  "the  Light   of  the  world,"  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  tell  of  light  coming  in  waves,  or  the  rapid- 
ity of  its  travel,  for  the  Chinese  know  as  much 
about  the  subject  as  the  Jews  did  when  they  heard 
of  the  "true  light,  which  Hghteth  every  man  that 
cometh  into  the  world." 

Has,  then,  the  universe  a  Creator  ?  We  stand 
upon  the  bounds  of  a  mighty  ocean ;  as  far  as  the 
eye  can  reach  there  is  the  expanse  of  water ;  but 


136  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

this  sea,  which  appears  so  boundless,  has  a  shore 
which  says,  "Hitherto  shalt  thou  come,  but  no 
further;  and  here  shall  thy  proud  waves  be 
stayed";  so  there  must  be  a  power  which  controls 
these  worlds  upon  worlds.  We  see  a  hanging 
rope ;  it  must  be  suspended  on  something,  and 
may  we  not  think  that  all  things  are  upheld  by  the 
word  of  Jehovah's  power?  Everything  we  use  has 
a  maker :  The  house  we  live  in,  the  table  we  "write 
on,  the  chair  we  sit  in,  the  bed  we  sleep  on,  were 
all  made  by  some  one.  Look  at  a  watch !  Su^d- 
pose  it  were  found  on  an  uninhabited  island ;  I 
heard  the  tick,  tick;  I  looked  within,  and  beheld 
"wheel  upon  wheel,  each  influencing  the  other, 
and  all  influenced  by  the  main-spring,  and  regu- 
lated by  the  balance-wheel.  The  evident  design 
of  all  this  is  to  make  the  hands  move,  and  mark 
time  upon  the  graduated  dial-plate."  "  The  irre- 
sistible conclusion  is,  that  some  one  made  the 
watch."  If  it  takes  me  days  or  weeks  "to  under- 
stand the  mechanism  of  the  watch,  it  must  have 
been  contrived  by  a  still  greater  intellect  than 
mine."  The  watch  had  a  maker,  and  an  intelli- 
gent maker.  Such  a  watch  is  the  solar  system, 
and  if  we  compare  the  movements  of  the  sun  with 
the  watch,  we  find  it  "marking  time  with  the  ut- 
most exactness  upon  the   dial-plate   of  heaven." 


Natural  Theology.  137 

And  shall  we  not  say  the  sun,  moon,  and  stars — 
the  "three  lights,"  as  the  Chinese  call  them — must 
have  a  Creator? 

If  we  come  to  a  honse,  the  reception-hall  with 
handsome  chairs  and  marble  tables,  the  bed-rooms 
with  finely-carved  furniture,  the  study  with  its 
cases  of  books  at  the  side,  and  pens  and  ink  on  the 
table,  the  kitchen  with  the  viands  all  prepared — 
though  we  see  no  one,  we  conclude  that  the  house 
has  a  master.  Along  the  main  street  is  a  store 
with  a  golden  sign,  its  entire  front  open,  the  goods 
lying  upon  the  shelves,  the  clerks  busy  serving 
customers — though  a  stranger,  I  feel  assured  there 
is  some  one  who  owns  the  store.  In  the  spring, 
on  the  commons,  we  see  flocks  of  eagles  and  swal- 
lows flying  in  the  sky,  for  the  kites  are  exact  imi- 
tations of  the  originals.  If  it  is  a  proof  of  intelli- 
gence to  make  the  kite,  how  much  more  to  make 
the  bird?  Go  to  the  weaver's  and  see  the  bro- 
caded satin  coming  from  the  loom.  Fii'st  comes 
a  practical  artist,  and  lays  out  the  warp.  He  ar- 
ranges perpendicular  threads,  each  in  its  place, 
and  then  his  work  is  finished.  Then  the  weaver 
uses  his  shuttle,  and  a  Httle  boy  perched  above 
pulls  at  the  threads,  and  out  comes  the  most  beau- 
tiful embroidered  silk.  The  pattern  is  a  trophy  of 
the  designer's  genius.     Let  us  walk  into  a  pleas- 


138  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

lire -garden,  with  its  pavilions,  and  tea-houses,  and 
bamboo  groves,  and  flowering  trees,  and  lakes,  and 
labyrinthian  rockeries.  If  these  "false  hills"  were 
made  by  man,-  can  we  not  think  that  the  moun- 
tains show  the  Creator's  power?  We  are  to  ask 
the  people,  AVhence  came  the  rice  you  eat  for  din- 
ner? Last  year's  planting.  And  whence  last 
year's  rice?  And  from  where  the  first  grains  of 
rice  ?  If  we  ask  where  our  bodies  came  from,  the 
people  answer,  "From  father  and  mother."  And 
pray,  from  Avhence  came  father  and  mother? 
From  ancestors,  one  generation  above  another. 
Then,  how  about  the  first  father  and  mother? 
How  naturally  comes  in  the  Scripture  narrative. 

While  unfolding  the  true  we  have  to  combat  the 
false  philosophy  of  the  Chinese  as  to  the  origin  of 
the  universe :  That  all  things  are  self -produced  ; 
that  heaven  and  earth,  the  great  father  and  mo- 
ther, originated  all  things;  that  the  Great  Monad 
was  the  primordial  germ ;  that  from  the  yin  and 
ya7ig,  the  male  and  female  principles  of  nature,  all 
things  come;  that  the  prime  agent  was  the  "lee," 
or  "the  principle  of  organization  by  which  matter 
is  preserved,  or  the  power  that  inheres  to  direct 
it";  and  that  Pankoo  divided  the  heavens  and  the 
earth.  It  is  quite  easy  to  show  the  absurdity  of 
these  vagaries. 


JSATUEAL  THEOLOaY.  139 

The  Chinese,  like  ourselves,  are  impressed  with 
the  glory  of  the  celestial  spheres,  and  an  astro- 
nomical discourse  is  exceedingly  appropriate.  We 
are  to  point  to  the  sun  as  the  source  of  hght  and 
heat,  and  impress  upon  them  how  much  they  owe 
to  the  possession  of  these  two  blessings.  We  are 
to  enlarge  upon  the  beauties  of  the  queen  of  night 
as  she  rides  through  the  heavens.  The  stars,  as 
diamonds  in  the  sky,  shine  as  brightly  to  the  pa- 
gan as  to  the  Christian.  The  pole-star,  fixed  in 
the  north,  here  guides  the  mariner.  While  they 
wonder  and  admire,  it  is  for  us  to  show  them  that 
*'The  heavens  declare  the  glory  of  God;  and  the 
firmament  showeth  his  handiwork.  Day  unto  day 
Tittereth  speech,  and  night  unto  night  showeth 
knowledge.  There  is  no  speech  nor  language 
where  their  voice  is  not  heard."  The  Chinese  are 
so  utilitarian  in  their  \dews,  and  so  much  "of  the 
earth,  earthy,"  that  they  bow  down,  and  worship 
"Mother  Earth."  The  four  seasons  native  artists 
love  to  paint,  and  of  their  beauty  native  poets  de- 
light to  sing.  The  variety  of  fruits  in  the  markets 
is  a  witness  of  the  benevolence  of  Deity.  The 
flowers  the  people  love  so,  adorning  the  houses, 
courts,  roofs,  boats,  and  which  the  florist  arranges 
so  artistically  in  a  mammoth  bouquet,  tell  them 
that  God  has  made  a  beautiful  world  for  man  to 


140  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

dwell  in.  The  argument  for  use  and  the  argument 
for  beauty  are  both  to  be  insisted  on.  The  rain- 
bow spanning  the  arch  of  heaven ;  the  succession 
of  hills  and  valleys ;  the  diamonds,  pearls,  and  pre- 
cious stones;  the  goldfish  in  the  artificial  lakes; 
the  little  birds  in  the  cages,  which  send  forth  joy- 
ful notes — these  all  tell  how  the  Heavenly  Father 
delights  to  please  his  earthly  children. 

The  world  is  not  thrown  together  at  random,  but 
order  is  the  law  of  nature.  The  distribution  of 
land  and  water;  the  deposition  of  dew  which  falls 
so  gently  with  life-giving  power  on  the  thirsty 
earth;  the  fall  of  rain  and  "the  snow  from  heaven," 
which  "  return eth  not  thither,  but  watereth  the 
earth,  and  maketh  it  to  bring  forth  and  bud,  that 
it  may  give  seed  to  the  sower,  and  bread  to  the 
eater,"  tell  of  an  all-wise  Providence.  Is  it  a  mark 
of  prudent  foresight  to  store  away  fuel  for  the 
winter  ?  Then,  what  of  the  mountains  of  coal  laid 
up  for  the  ages !  "  If  a  father  who,  when  he  pro- 
vides a  home  for  his  children,  fits  it  up  with  all 
the  necessaries  and  luxuries  which  they  can  possi- 
bly need,  gives  indisputable  evidence  of  intelli- 
gence and  love,  then  are  those  attributes  to  be 
ascribed  to  him  who  fitted  up  this  world  to  be  the 
home  of  his  creatures." 

The  Chinese  speak  of  the  "five  elements" — the 


Natural  Theology.  141 

metals,  wood,  water,  lieat,  and  earth.  What  an 
amount  of  metallic  substances  in  the  Middle  King- 
dom! The  mines  of  gold,  the  quantities  of  silver 
for  commerce  and  ornaments,  brass  with  its  mani- 
fold uses,  and  iron  in  the  mountains,  lying  just  be- 
side the  coal.  The  forests  supply  materials  to  con- 
struct houses,  boats,  and  furniture.  How  much 
water  is  used!  For  tea,  cooking,  bathing,  wash- 
ing, irrigating,  and  travelhng!  How  many  lakes, 
rivers,  canals,  and  springs !  Were  the  sea  a  half- 
mile  higher,  it  would  deluge  the  dry  land.  Ice 
expands  in  freezing,  and  so  floats  on  top,  and  the 
fish  are  preserved  underneath.  Were  water,  hke 
other  substances,  to  contract  by  cold,  it  would 
sink,  the  canal  become  an  iceberg,  and  all  the  fish 
die.  How  necessary  to  our  existence  is  heat!  We 
must  also  tell  of  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  in  pro- 
viding the  "five  grains":  God  protects,  farmers 
plant,  boats  transport,  merchants  sell,  and  men 
and  beasts  eat. 

The  physiological  argument  is  one  the  people 
appreciate,  for,  though  they  know  little  of  the 
muscles,  they  are  acquainted  with  the  bones  and 
the  important  organs  of  the  human  system.  So- 
crates called  attention  to  the  works  of  God,  and 
pointed  to  the  statue,  so  cold  and  immovable,  as 
the  highest  display  of  man's  art,  and  compared 


142  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

this  with  the  figure,  all  warm  with  hfe,  that  can 
moYe,  breathe,  speak,  and  act,  the  handiwork  of 
Jehovah.  Let  us  visit  a  temple  and  see  the  idols 
sitting  on  their  pedestals,  big  at  the  bottom  and 
sloping  upwards,  and  then  see  man,  mth  the  body 
large  and  tapering  to  the  feet,  his  "four  limbs  and 
hundred  parts"  so  supple  and  movable  to  turn,  or 
stand,  or  sit,  or  recline.  The  thick  head  bones  so 
assiduously  guarding  the  brain,  like  the  arch  at 
the  city  gate ;  the  beautiful  curving  column  of  the 
spine,  giving  flexibiUty  to  the  body ;  the  heart  and 
lungs,  enclosed  by  the  ribs  like  the  hoops  around 
a  bucket ;  the  sockets  of  the  joints,  working  so 
smoothly  and  not  wearing  out  like  the  wooden 
hinges  of  a  door,  tell  of  wisdom  in  design.  If  the 
arms  were  as  large  as  the  legs,  the  weight  would  be 
oppressive ;  and  if  the  legs  were  as  small  as  the  arms, 
man  would  be  a  monstrosity.  The  hand!  Beasts 
have  none  ;  cats  and  dogs  use  their  mouths ;  squir- 
rels and  monkeys  their  feet.  Its  skin  fits  like  a 
glove.  It  has  such  a  large  number  of  bones  and 
flexible  joints,  and  turns  at  the  wrist  and  at  every 
joint!  For  writing,  drawing,  cutting,  digging,  the 
hand  is  used.  Some  machines  are  for  coarse  work, 
some  for  fine;  but  here  is  a  .machine  which  can 
build  a  house  and  mend  a  watch,  pull  a  hempen 
rope  and  a  silken  thread,  has  a  firm  grasp  and  a 


Natural  Theology.  143 

delicate  tovich.  How  beautiful  the  human  foot, 
with  so  many  bones  uniting  to  form  an  arch;  and 
when  the  coolie  carries  a  load,  the  weight  it  sus- 
tains is  doubled! 

Or  take  the  eye.  Is  the  camera  a  mark  of  skill 
and  intelligence  ?  It  is  made  after  the  pattern  of 
the  organ  of  vision.  The  eye  is  protected  by  pro- 
jecting bones,  as  Jerusalem  was  encircled  by 
mountains.  It  has  ''the  hedge  of  the  eyebrows, 
the  curtain  of  the  eyelids,  and  the  fence  of  the 
eyelashes."  "The  eye  is  not  repaired;  it  repairs 
itself.  It  is  not  adjusted ;  it  adjusts  itself."  It  is 
moistened  with  tears,  closed  while  we  sleep,  and  open 
when  we  wake.  "  God  has  given  to  every  man  so 
high  a  value  for  his  eye,  and  so  quick  an  appre- 
hension of  danger,  that  no  member  of  the  body  is 
more  faithfully  cared  for  than  the  organ  of  sight." 
The  ear  hears  the  loud  peals  of  distant  thunder, 
and  the  soft  notes  of  music  near  at  hand.  The 
nose  catches  the  sweet  perfume  of  flowers,  and 
also  tells  of  decay,  the  removal  of  which  prevents 
sickness.  What  a  blessing  is  the  gift  of  speech! 
The  throat  has  "the  windpipe"  and  "the  food- 
pipe,"  with  a  trap -door  over  the  former,  which 
shuts  when  the  food  passes.  We  cut  with  our 
front  teeth  as  with  a  knife,  and  grind  with  our 
back  teeth  as  in  a  mill.     The  saliva  is  to  moisten 


144  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

the  food,  and  prepare  it  for  assimilation.  In  a 
fever,  the  moutli  is  dry,  because  the  heat,  hke  the 
sun  in  a  drought,  dries  it  uj).  How  wonderful  the 
process  of  digestion!  When  we  are  weak,  a  bowl 
of  rice  gives  strength,  and  prepares  us  for  work. 
The  lungs  are  the  bellows,  or  "wind-boxes,"  and 
in  them  the  blood  meets  with  the  air,  and  is  puri- 
fied. The  most  important  organ  is  the  heart, 
which  acts  hke  the  system  of  water-works  in 
Shanghai,  playing  the  part  of  both  the  engine  and 
the  tower.  How  all  the  members  of  the  body, 
framed  together,  form  one  complete  whole!  The 
eyes  are  not  on  the  back,  the  ears  on  the  breast, 
or  the  nose  on  the  feet ;  nor  are  the  important  or- 
gans to  be  measured  by  their  size,  but  *'  God  hath 
tempered  the  body  together."  "If  the  whole  body 
were  an  eye,  where  were  the  hearing?  If  the 
whole  were  hearing,  where  were  the  smelling? 
But  now  God  hath  set  the  members,  every  one  of 
them,  in  the  body  as  it  hath  pleased  him." 

Natural  history  presents  its  line  of  argument. 
How  many  varieties  of  birds  in  China,  and  in  how 
many  houses  is  there  a  cage  with  a  pet  songster, 
whose  little  room  is  kept  clean,  even  though  their 
own  homes  may  not  be  in  order.  See  the  pheasant 
roaming  wild  in  the  fields  around  the  city !  Can 
the   scholars   along   the   streets,    arrayed  in   silk, 


Natural  Theology.  145 

satin,  and  fur,  be  compared  with  one  of  these  ? 
God  made  the  fowls  of  the  air,  with  bodies  small 
and  bones  hght,  a  tiny  bird  carrying  an  immense 
wing.  With  what  ease  they  sail  aloft  till  we  see 
but  a  small  speck  in  the  sky!  Did  man  have 
wings,  they  must  be  as  large  as  the  side  of  the 
room,  and  he  could  not  walk  with  such  a  load. 
What  diversity  there  is  in  the  bills  of  birds! 
The  same  is  seen  in  their  feet.  Those  of  the 
woodpecker  are  like  claws,  and  the  duck's  are 
web-footed.  Watch  the  ease  with  which  they 
swim!  So  the  Chinese  have  taken  the  duck  as 
the  model  for  a  boat. 

The  forests  of  the  earth  are  a  great  zoological 
garden,  and  so  extensive  is  the  fauna  that  it  is 
designated  the  "animal  kingdom."  Furs  come 
from  the  snow-clad  regions  of  the  north,  where 
beasts  are  provided  with  thick  clothing.  Dogs 
and  tigers  have  sharp  teeth  to  eat  flesh,  horses 
and  cows  broad  ones  to  feed  on  grass.  Man's 
throat  is  smooth,  so  that  food  slips  down ;  the 
horse's  throat  is  rough,  so  he  can  draw  food  up- 
wards. As  the  elephant's  neck  is  short,  he  is 
provided  with  a  trunk,  which  is  a  weapon  of  im- 
mense power,  and  so  dehcate  at  the  end  that  it 
can  pick  up  a  needle.  In  Central  Asia  they  do 
not  cross  the  sandy  deserts  in  boats  as  in  South 


146  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

China,  or  in  carts,  as  in  Nortli  China,  but  on 
camels.  Within  the  camel  are  fourteen  bags,  in 
which  he  stores  water  for  the  "dry  and  thirsty 
land  where  no  water  is."  These  facts  lead  the 
minds  of  the  hearer  to  nature's  God. 

As  we  pass  through  the  country  we  are  struck 
with  the  quantities  of  fish.  Along  the  coasts  we 
see  Hghts  from  the  fishing  boats ;  the  rivers,  lakes, 
and  canals  are  full  of  them;  fish  nets  and  traps 
are  everywhere  to  be  seen.  Perhaps  millions 
obtain  a  livehhood  from  the  waters.  There  are 
fish-hongs,  and  fish-stands,  and  fish-mongers. 
To  raise  sheep,  hogs,  and  fowls  takes  money,  but 
here  is  a  costless  provision  of  meat  for  the  multi- 
tudes in  this  "hive  of  nations."  There  is  no 
more  patent  fact  than  this  of  God's  care  for  men. 
Then  what  a  wonderful  organism  the  fist  is !  Let 
a  man  be  put  under  the  water,  and  it  fills  his  eyes 
and  mouth,  and  soon  he  drowns ;  but  the  fish 
lives  and  moves.  With  his  tail  he  skulls  his  own 
boat,  just  as  the  boatman  uses  the  oar  at  the 
stern.  His  bones  are  fine  and  elastic,  his  fins  are 
like  the  side  wheels  to  a  steamer,  and  his  blood, 
colder  than  man's,  is  just  the  temperature  of  the 
water.  What  a  sermon  the  fish  is!  How  God 
has  made  all  things  so  fitted  for  their  special 
state !     Were  the  horse  the  size  of  the  dog,  man 


Natural  Theology.  147 

could  not  ride ;  were  the  cow  as  liiige  as  the  ele- 
phant, it  would  not  be  suitable  for  the  dairy;  if 
the  cat  were  as  large  as  the  hog,  when  wild  it 
would  be  formidable ;  were  the  eagle  of  the  dimen- 
sions of  the  mule,  it  could  carry  off  men  to  its 
nest.  See  how  the  feet  of  horses,  monkeys,  and 
ducks  are  suited  respectively  for  walking,  climb- 
ing, and  swimming!  Fish  are  in  the  water, 
beasts  on  the  earth,  and  birds  in  the  air.  Fish 
are  not  on  the  land,  beasts  are  not  in  the  air,  nor 
birds  in  the  water.  Fish  have  scales,  beasts 
hoofs,  and  birds  wings.  Beasts  have  not  wings, 
nor  fish  hoofs,  nor  birds  scales.  The  beasts  of 
the  field,  the  fowls  of  the  air,  and  the  fish  of  the 
sea  are  a  happy  triad  that  wait  upon  their  Maker. 
"  He  causeth  grass  to  grow  for  the  cattle."  "  The 
cedars  of  Lebanon,  which  he  hath  planted,  where 
the  birds  make  their  nests."  "  This  great  and 
wide  sea,  wherein  are  things  creeping  innumera- 
ble." "  O  Lord !  how  manifold  are  thy  works !  in 
wisdom  hast  thou  made  them  all." 

If  natural  theology  teaches  the  existence  of  God, 
it  may  be  asked  does  it  tell  of  his  unity,  or  is  this 
a  doctrine  of  Revelation  as  when  God's  chosen 
people  learned  their  great  lesson  that  Jehovah 
was  one?  Here  are  milHons  of  gods.  How  are 
we  to  demonstrate  to  the   Chinese  that   God  is 


148  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

one?  In  answering  this  question,  Mencins  may 
be  quoted,  "Heaven  lias  not  two  suns,  -nor  the 
people  two  rulers."  If  it  is  necessary  for  a  coun- 
try to  have  only  one  ruler,  how  much  more  for 
the  universe  to  have  one  king?  During  the 
Taipine  rebellion,  with  two  emperors,  mid-China 
became  a  desolation  and  a  ruin.  As  we  behold 
how  heaven  and  earth  move  in  peace  and  union, 
we  may  know  there  is  only  one  power  that  directs. 
Were  there  two  gods,  one  might  desire  cold  and 
the  other  heat,  one  winter  and  the  other  summer, 
one  rain  and  the  other  sunshine.  The  four  sea- 
sons would  be  in  confusion,  and  heaven  and  earth 
overturned!  Were  there  two,  they  must  divide 
jurisdiction  and  so  have  limits  to  their  power, 
hut  the  essential  idea  of  God  is  that  he  is  illimi- 
table. Were  we  to  see  a  steamship  built  in  dif- 
ferent shops,  the  various  parts  when  put  together 
making  one  complete  whole,  would  we  not  say 
that  the  models  were  designed  by  one  architect? 
When  the  wooden  frame-work  of  a  Chinese  house, 
built  in  the  shop,  is  erected,  and  it  is  found  that 
mortise  and  tenon,  joint  and  socket  fit  the  one  to 
the  other,  is  it  not  evident  that  the  draught  was 
made  by  one  carpenter?  We  see  everything  made 
with  some  special  design :  the  clock  to  keep  time, 
the  loom  to  weave,  the  boat  to  travel     Through- 


Natukal  Theology.  149 

out  creation  it  is  also  evident  that  one  tiling  is 
designed  for  another.  If  air  was  heavier  or  lighter, 
birds  could  not  flj;  so  he  who  created  the  birds 
created  also  the  air.  If  water  were  more  or  less 
dense,  fish  could  not  Hve.  He  w^ho  made  the  fish 
made  also  the  water.  If  all  nations  were  governed 
by  the  same  laws  we  would  consider  that  there 
was  one  emperor.  Does  not  the  uniformity  of 
the  laws  of  nature  j^oi^t  to  the  unity  of  God? 
The  sun  rises  in  the  east  and  sets  in  the  west. 
The  moon  and  stars  shine  by  night.  The  four 
seasons  come  in  regular  succession.  A  day  and 
a  night  are  twenty-four  hours  long.  Were  night 
to  continue  for  three  days  it  would  be  an  Egyp- 
tian plague.  If  one  was  hot  and  the  next  cold, 
no  constitution  could  stand  it.  A  family,  a  boat, 
a  house,  a  hong,  each  has  its  head,  why  should 
the  universe  be  headless  ?  The  county  has  a 
district  magistrate,  the  department  a  prefect,  the 
province  a  governor,  two  provinces  a  viceroy,  the 
eighteen  provinces  an  emperor,  and  who  above 
him?  Men  answer,  "heaven."  And  who  rules 
heaven?  "0!  Lord,  our  Lord,  how  excellent  is 
thy  name  in  all  the  earth !  who  hast  set  thy  glory 
above  the  heavens." 

The  Bible  teaches  the  Christian  that   "God  is 
love";  the  book  of  nature  also  tells  the  heathen 


150  Pkeaching  in  Sinim. 

the  blessed  trutli  of  the  Fatherhood  of  God.  If 
there  are  seventy  or  eighty  to  eat  from  one 
kitchen,  as  in  the  large  families  in  China,  how 
much  care  to  its  head  to  provide  ?  Then  think  of 
the  race  of  men  living  on  God's  bounty!  He  suj^- 
plies  his  children  with  furs  for  the  winter,  cotton 
for  the  spring,  hemp  for  the  summer,  and  silk  for 
the  fall.  He  gives  them  brass  and  iron,  gold  and 
silver.  They  have  horses,  cows,  sheep,  and  hogs. 
On  a  bright  spring  day  how  happy  creation  is — the 
birds  sing,  the  lambs  sport,  calves  and  colts  play, 
and  all  living  things  seem  happy!  If  all  flowers 
had  the  same  color,  all  birds  the  same  feathers,  all 
scenery  the  same  appearance,  all  food  the  same 
taste,  how  monotonous !  Man  with  his  eyes  sees 
pretty  colors,  with  his  ears  hears  dehghtful  har- 
monies, with  his  palate  enjoys  pleasant  tastes. 
Famines  are  the  exceptions  and  years  of  plenty 
the  rule,  sick  days  only  now  and  then  and  days  of 
health  continuous,  days  of  sorrow  few  and  our 
happy  days  many.  Were  the  heavens  paper,  and 
the  sea  ink,  and  all  the  trees  and  woods  pens,  if  we 
attempted  to  write  of  the  goodness  of  God,  the 
forests  would  be  felled,  the  oceans  dry,  and  the 
scrolls  finished,  and  still  we  could  sing  "God  is 
Love." 

Day  after  day,  during  the  epochs  of  creation,  it 


Natueal  Theology.  151 

was  recorded,  "And  God  saw  that  it  was  good." 
Nature  tells  also  of  the  perfection  of  God's  works. 
Nearly  everything  done  by  man  has  some  defect, 
but  not  so  with  the  works  of  Jehovah.  The  sun  is 
one,  not  two.  "Were  there  two  the  light  would 
bhnd  our  eyes,  and  the  heat  would  make  the  earth 
a  furnace.  In  the  early  morn  when  the  shadows 
roll  down  the  mountain  sides,  and  the  rising  sun 
gilds  the  east,  and  peak  and  headland  are  lit  up, 
the  dew  sparkhng  upon  the  green  leaves,  and  the 
birds  with  their  first  notes  are  heard,  does  not 
nature  sing  its  Maker's  praise!  Men  love  to  gaze 
at  the  moon,  but  were  it  brighter  they  could  not 
enjoy  its  soft  beams.  If  the  Hght  of  the  stars  were 
more  brilliant  we  could  not  rest  at  night.  "Lo, 
these  are  parts  of  his  ways ;  but  how  little  a  por- 
tion is  heard  of  him!  "  Natural  Theology  tells  us 
that  there  is  a  God,  that  he  is  one,  that  he  is 
good,  and  he  is  almighty.  This  is  the  first  out- 
Hne  of  thought  we  present,  and  it  is  the  door  by 
which  we  may  lead  the  pagan  into  the  glorious 
temple  of  revealed  theology  and  unfold  the  self- 
existence,  eternity,  omnipotence,  omniscience, 
omnipresence,  justice,  goodness,  truth  and  holi- 
ness of  Jehovah.  When  we  attempt  to  tell  a  poor 
heathen^of  the  glory  of  God,  we  must,  Hke  the 
Seraphim,  cry,  "Holy,  holy,  holy,  is  the  Lord  of 


152  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

hosts :  the  whole  earth  is  fuU  of  his  glory."  Where 
can  we  better  speak  of  "God  is  a  Spirit"  than  in 
China  amidst  the  hosts  of  images  and  image  wor- 
shippers? Or  of  him  as  the  Living  God  than 
where  it  is  the  worship  of  dead  men,  and  where  in 
the  temples  "Death  reigns ?  "  To  the  Gentiles  we 
present  the  internal  evidences  of  our  holy  rehgion, 
and  show  them  how  the  heart's  desire  to  wor- 
ship, and  the  truth  that  God  is  the  object  of 
worship  fit  the  one  to  the  other,  as  the  two  halves 
of  a  Chinese  cheque,  one  of  which  is  sent  to  the 
bank  and  the  other  to  the  party  that  collects. 
The  sinner's  wants  are  made  known  in  prayer; 
God  hears  prayer.  Here  is  the  lock  and  its  key. 
There  are  sins  which  I  confess ;  God  forgives  sin. 
Does  not  one  match  the  other,  as  the  page  of  a 
book  the  stereotype  plate  from  which  it  was 
printed?  So  we,  as  wise  master-builders,  use 
gold,  silver,  and  precious  stones,  and  to  estabhsh 
the  truth  of  our  holy  religion  draw  our  arguments 
from  the  heaven  above,  the  earth  beneath,  and  the 
consciousness  of  man.  Thus  with  David  we  may 
sing  the  first  part  of  the  nineteenth  Psalm,  as  the 
Gentiles  ascend  unto  the  hill  of  the  Lord  to  study 
his  word,  and  discover  that  "  The  law  of  the  Lord 
is  perfect,  converting  the  soul:  the  testimony  of 
the  Lord  is  sure,  making  wise  the  simple."     If  the 


Natural  Theology.  153 

witness  nature  bears  to  the  existence  of  God  is 
so  full,  what  must  the  Bible  be  which  he  has 
written  to  reveal  his  glorious  attributes!  If  natu- 
ral religion  is  such  a  grand  field  of  research,  what 
a  wide  domain  for  the  preacher  to  the  heathen  is 
revealed  theology  I 


CHAPTEE   XL 

The  Light  of  Ethics  and  the  Darkness  of  Sin/ 

rpHE  apostle  says  of  the  Gentiles,  "Which  shew 
J-  the  work  of  the  law  written  in  their  hearts, 
their  conscience  also  bearing  witness."  As  ethical 
teachers  we  are  to  study  the  moral  code  of  the 
people  to  whom  we  come.  One  reason  of  the 
nation's  longevity  is  the  most  excellent  system  of 
moral  philosophy,  known  as  Confucian,  which  is 
studied  by  every  httle  boy  who  enters  school. 
The  silver  rule  of  the  sage,  enunciated  twice  in 
different  words,  is  the  golden  rule  in  a  negative 
form,  and  with  the  same  meaning.  The  exhor- 
tation of  the  philosopher  Tientsze,  whose  temple 
stands  in  Soochow,  "Love  men,"  "Learn  the 
doctrine,"  is  an  approach  on  the  human  side  to 
the  fulfilling  of  the  law  in  the  one  word,  "Love." 
The  people  speak  constantly  of  "faithfulness,  rev- 
erence, chastity,  and  morality  "  as  the  four  pillars 
of  the  temple  of  Morality,  and  of  the  "five  vir- 
tues," "benevolence,  righteousness,  propriety, 
knowledge,  and  faith,"  as  the  guiding  principles 
of  national  integrity.  In  the  doctrine  of  the 
man    "the    standard    of    excellence   is   placed   so 

154 


The  Light  of  Ethics.  155 

•high  as  to  be  absolutely  unattainable  by  unaided 
human  nature."  The  author  "probably  intended 
io  elevate  the  character  of  his  grandfather  to  this 
height,  and  thus  hand  him  down  to  future  ages  as 
the  perfect  and  holy  man.  He  has,  in  the  pro- 
vidence of  God,  done  his  countrymen  great  ser- 
vice in  setting  before  them  such  a  character." 
"Compared  with  the  precepts  of  Grecian  and 
Eoman  sages,  the  general  tendency  of  the  writings 
of  Confucius  is  good,  while  in  adaptation  to  the 
society  in  which  he  lived,  and  their  eminently 
practical  character,  they  exceed  those  of  western 
philosophers.  He  did  not  deal  much  in  sublime 
and  unattainable  descriptions  of  virtue,  but  rather 
taught  how  the  common  intercourse  of  hfe  was  to 
be  maintained." 

Mencius  speaks  of  "the  heart  which  approves 
and  disapproves,"  i.  e.,  conscience.  He  also  says, 
"Without  a  heart  to  approve  and  disapprove,  one 
cannot  be  a  man."  There  are  scores  of  proverbs 
about  conscience,  and  in  ordinary  conversation 
the  people  appeal  to  their  consciences.  A  com- 
mon topic  is  the  "heart."  Without  a  "pious 
heart"  worship  is  in  vain;  we  are  to  "rectify  the 
heart";  "the  heart  must  be  placed  in  the  centre," 
i.  e.,  control  all  our  actions.  The  teachings  of 
1;he   sages   have  been  handed  down  through  the 


156  PKEACHINa  IN  SlNIM. 

ages,  and  have  become  part  of  tlieir  moral  warp 
and  woof.  They  boast  of  their  ethical  teachings, 
and  we  may  change  the  words  of  Paul  about  the 
Jews  so  as  to  read,  "Behold,  thou  art  called  a 
Chinese,  and  resteth  in  the  law,  and  makest  thy 
boast  of  Confucius,  and  art  confident  that  thou 
thyself  art  a  guide  to  the  bhnd,  a  light  to  them 
which  art  in  darkness,  an  instructor  of  the  foolish, 
a  teacher  of  babes."  Some  of  the  Parisees  asked 
Jesus,  "Are  we  blind  also?  Jesus  said  unto  them, 
If  ye  were  blind,  ye  should  have  no  sin ;  but  now 
ye  say,  we  see ;  therefore  your  sin  remaineth." 
It  is  the  claim  of  the  Chinese  to  high  moral  cul- 
ture which  makes  them  "without  excuse."  They 
say  that  western  nations  excel  in  arts  and  sciences, 
but  that  we  have  the  literature  and  moral  teach- 
ings. Often  in  the  chapels,  when  we  are  speaking 
of  duty,  some  stranger  takes  up  the  thread  of  dis- 
course and  talks  both  eloquently  and  pointedly. 
They  converse  with  a  glib  readiness  on  these 
topics,  and  their  words  indicate  a  surprising  know- 
ledge of  the  true  and  the  good.  We  are  to  recog- 
nize all  that  we  find  praiseworthy  in  the  Confucian 
economy,  but  at  the  same  time  show  the  supe- 
riority of  Christianity  as  a  moral  code,  besides  the 
glorious  teachings  on  rehgion,  on  which  topic  the 
sage  was  silent. 


The  Light  of  Ethics.  157 

Throughout  the  Bible,  prominent  doctrines  are 
taught  by  contrast.  So  in  China  we  may  put  their 
theoretical  knowledge  of  morality  over  against 
their  practical  ignorance  of  sin.  We  do  not  come 
to  a  barbarous  people  to  teach  them  the  first  prin- 
ci|)les  of  right  and  wrong,  but  to  a  nation  highly 
cultivated  in  literature  and  the  arts.  "\Ye  come  to 
instruct  them  in  the  matter  of  salvation.  By  what 
avenue  shall  we  approach  them?  How  shall  we 
tell  them  of  Jesus,  the  Saviour  of  the  world?  It 
is  evident  they  must  feel  their  need  of  salvation 
before  they  can  accept  the  mediation  of  Christ. 
To  hear  of  religion  as  it  is  written  in  the  books 
pleases  them ;  it  is  redemption  appHed  to  their  in- 
dividual consciences  which  is  so  difficult.  Our 
Master  says,  "The  whole  need  not  a  ]Dhysician." 
The  Chinese,  in  their  own  estimation,  are  whole; 
even  the  prisoners  in  the  gaols  claim  to  be  good 
men.  Christ  said,  "I  came  not  to  call  the  right- 
eous." The  Chinese  are  righteous.  The  land  is 
full  of  Laodiceans,  who  say,  "I  am  rich,  and  in- 
creased with  goods,  and  have  need  of  nothing; 
and  know  not  that  they  are  wretched,  and  misera- 
ble, and  poor,  and  bhnd,  and  naked."  Shall  we 
tell  them  of  the  love  of  God?  They  are  delighted 
with  the   doctrine,  and   consider   themselves   the 

worthy  recipients.     We  speak  of  the  goodness  of 
14 


158  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

God  in  providing  food  for  his  creatures.  "Yes^ 
the  rice  I  eat  is  my  due ;  I  ought  to  have  it ;  I  am 
entitled  to  it;  it  is  my  own."  We  tell  of  the  death 
of  the  Son  of  God.  It  is  a  panorama,  a  pretty 
pictui-e,  a  wonderful  spectacle  of  divine  mercy. 
We  say  that  Christ  died  for  sinners,  and  they  ac- 
cept the  statement  as  a  general  truth  which  has  no 
apphcation  in  the  premises.  The  preacher  asks, 
*'Do  you  know  what  sin  is?"  "Oh,  yes:  murder, 
arson,  robbery."  "Have  you  any  sin?"  "Yes, 
everybody  has  sin."  "Have  you  any  personal 
sin?"  "No,  I  have  never  done  anything  wrong." 
"Have  you  never  had  a  bad  thought?"  "How 
could  I?  My  heart  is  pure."  "Has  no  profane 
word  ever  passed  your  lips?"  "Never;  I  do  not 
curse."  "But  in  your  early  years  did  you  never 
commit  sin?"  If  I  did,  I  have  forgotten  it;  it 
makes  no  difference  now."  To  hear  them  tell  it, 
the  Chinese  are  a  sinless  people.  Day  by  day  we 
converse  with  old  men  and  old  women  who  con- 
sider themselves  immaculate.  Others  deem  it  such 
a  small  matter,  that  it  is  not  worth  talking  about. 
Many  are  insulted  by  the  question  ;  the  possibihty 
of  thinking  I  have  sin ! 

This  estate  of  Confucian  perfection  is  almost  in- 
comprehensible to  us.  We  speak  of  conviction  of 
sin  as  it  is  felt  sometimes  during  a  powerful  revival 


The  Light  of  Ethics.  159 

of  religion,  and  perhaps  in  our  own  souls  we  have 
experienced  the  terrors  of  sins  unforgiven ;  but 
from  our  childhood  we  have  never  been  without  a 
sense  of  sin;  we  have  always  had  tender  consci- 
ences, and,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  have  felt 
that  sin  is  evil  in  God's  sight.  In  Christian  lands 
this  is  almost  universal.  Men  who  remain  with- 
out the  pale  of  the  Christian  church  confess  them- 
selves to  be  sinners,  and  acknowledge  that  they 
personally  have  been  guilty  of  sin.  Those  at  home 
who  deny  that  they  have  sin  are  just  as  scarce  as 
men  here  who  confess  that  they  are  sinners.  Peo- 
ple speak  to  us  about  praying  to  our  Heavenly 
Father:  "T  suppose  you  kneel  and  say,  'Oh,  Lord, 
here  I  am ;  I  have  a  good  conscience ;  I  have 
never  done  anything  wrong.'  "  The  Saviour  puts 
it  exactly:  "^The  Pharisee  stood  ^tA  prayed  thus 
loith  himself  (all  about  ego),  "God,  I  thank  thee 
that  I  am  not  as  other  men  are."  They  wipe  their 
mouth,  and  say,  "I  have  done  no  wickedness." 

There  are  several  causes  of  this  self-satisfaction. 
In  Zechariah's  vision  of  the  myrtle  trees,  those 
who  rode  upon  the  horses,  answered  the  angel  of 
the  Lord  and  said,  "  "We  have  walked  to  and  fro 
through  the  earth,  and  behold,  all  the  earth  sit- 
teth  still  and  is  at  rest."  "Thus  saith  the  Lord 
of  hosts I  am  very  sore   displeased    with 


160  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

the  heathen  that  are  at  ease."  The  Chinese  are 
the  most  contented  people  on  the  face  of  the 
earth,  and  thej  carry  complete  serenity  (heart- 
ease)  into  the  domain  of  rehgion.  Another  cause 
is  their  excessive  worldly-mindedness.  They 
"love  the  world  and  the  things  of  the  world." 
The  love  of  gain  is  the  one  absorbing  interest  of 
their  lives;  so,  with  their  thoughts  fixed  on  this, 
they  never  look  within.  A  third  reason  is  their 
belief  in  the  essential  goodness  of  human  nature. 
Their  philosophy  inculcates  it,  their  teachers  teach 
it,  their  scholars  beheve  it,  and  the  people  accept 
it ;  so  the  doctrine  that  "  all  have  sinned  and 
come  short  of  the  glory  of  God"  is  a  strange 
dogma.  Again,  the  systems  of  merit  have  had  a 
deadening  effect  upon  the  hearts  and  consciences 
of  the  people.  Burning  incense  is  not  so  much 
an  act  of  worship  to  the  gods  as  a  method  of 
gaining  merit  for  man.  Benevolent  actions,  fasts, 
vegetable  diet,  pilgrimages,  are  all  meritorious ; 
so  a  Chinaman  is  not  "  poor  in  spirit "  ;  he  is  rich 
in  merit.  In  the  fifth  place,  their  political 
preaching  tends  to  make  them  have  comfortable 
views  of  their  own  condition.  The  ministers  of 
Confucianism  speak  only  of  the  great  crimes,  and 
men  who  are  guilty  of  these  are  publicly  pun- 
ished by  heaven.     The  Yamen  runners  and  hard- 


The  Light  of  Ethics.  161 

hearted  publicans  at  the  barriers  are  bad  peo- 
ple ;  but  the  merchant  of  tolerable  honesty ;  the 
teacher  who  is  regular  in  his  instructions ;  the 
lady  who  enjoys  the  money  and  fees  the  priests  ; 
the  servant,  who  performs  the  simple  chores — 
what  wrong  thing  do  they  do  ? 

Last  year  there  was  a  proclamation  posted 
throughout  the  city,  naming  176  men  who  have 
formerly  been  before  the  police  court,  and  telling 
them  if  they  are  again  found  guilty,  they  will  be 
branded  on  the  cheeks.  The  people  have  atten- 
tively read  this  document,  and  conclude  that 
there  are  thus  176  bad  men  in  Soochow,  and 
499,824  good  people. 

Again,  Satan  has  murdered  these  people.  Soul- 
less gods  have  made  soulless  worshippers.  They 
are  dead,  dead,  dead!  We  astonish  them  when 
we  affirm  that  the  Pearly  Emperor  is  not  in 
heaven ;  when  we  say  that  the  worship  of  heaven 
and  earth  is  an  abomination ;  when  we  assert 
that  Jesus  is  the  Lord  of  lords.  These  are  small 
surprises.  The  startling  fact  is  when  they  find 
themselves  guilty  sinners  before  the  bar  of  an 
offended  God. 

A  seventh  reason  is  presented.  Though  they 
speak  so  fluently  about  moral  responsibility,  they 
have  "their  conscience  seared  with  a  hot  iron," 


162  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

Their  sensibilities  are  deadened  to  eternal  things. 
An  illustration  is  seen  in  the  back  and  legs  of  a 
peasant,  the  one  nncoYered  to  the  snns  of  forty 
summers,  and  immersed,  as  the  other  has  been,  in 
the  mud  of  the  paddy-fields,  the  skin  has  become 
hardened  by  exposure ;  and  so,  in  a  measure,  the 
sense  of  feeling  is  blunted. 

It  is  evident  the  case  needs  heroic  treatment. 
The  loYe  theory  will  not  suffice.  The  minister  is 
to  preach  the  law.  Paul  gives  us  a  section  of  his 
experience,  "  Nay,  I  had  not  known  sin,  but  by 
the  law.  .  .  .  For  without  the  law  sin  was 
dead.  For  I  was  alive  without  the  law  once ;  but 
when  the  commandment  came,  sin  revived  and  I 
died."  His  death,  however,  was  to  Hve  again. 
"The  law  was  our  schoolmaster  to  bring  us  to 
Christ."  It  may  be  asked.  Did  not  the  Moravians 
pursue  this  policy,  preaching  about  sin  and  the 
judgment,  with  no  converts,  but  when  one  told  the 
story  of  God's  love  many  believed?  True,  but 
would  the  gospel  have  been  accepted  by  the  Ice- 
landers had  they  not  first  heard  the  law?  We 
are  to  lead  the  Chinese  into  the  desert  of  Arabia, 
"to  the  mount  that  might  not  be  touched,  and 
that  burned  with  fire." 

'  *  Awaked  by  Sinai's  awful  sound, 
My  soul  in  bonds  of  guilt  I  found." 


The  Light  of  Ethics.  163 

Upon  this  citadel  the  preacher  must  level  his 
heaviest  batteries.  It  is  not  simply  to  drive  a 
Chinese  out  of  idolatry,  that  refuge  of  lies,  but  to 
drive  him  out  of  his  self-righteousness,  to  make 
him  know  that  robes  of  silk  are  the  vestments  of 
one  who,  "from  the  sole  of  the  foot  even  unto  the 
head  there  is  no  soundness  in  it ;  but  wounds  and 
bruises  and  putrifying  sores."  The  people  are 
surrounded  by  walls  as  high  as  heaven,  and  no 
Jonathan  with  his  armor-bearer  can  scale  them. 
We  must  not  only  make  a  breach,  the  fort  must 
be  leveled  to  the  ground.  To  the  human  eye  these 
bulwarks  are  impregnable,  but  the  Holy  Spirit 
will  come  as  a  "rushing  mighty  wind,"  a  cyclone, 
and  demolish  the  strongholds  of  Satan.  The 
Comforter  "  will  reprove  the  world  of  sin,  and  of 
righteousness,  and  of  judgment."  Then  will  they 
be  "pricked  in  their  heart."  And  what  mourning! 
"And  I  will  pour  out  upon  the  house  of  David, 
and  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  the  spirit 
of  grace  and  of  supphcations ;  and  they  shall  look 
upon  me  whom  they  have  pierced,  and  they  shall 
mourn  for  him,  as  one  mourneth  for  his  only  son, 
and  shall  be  in  bitterness  for  him,  as  one  that  is 
in  bitterness  for  his  first  born."  "In  that  day" 
of  mourning  and  prayer  "  there  shall  be  a  fountain 
opened  to  the  house  of  David  and  to  the  inhabi- 


164  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

tants  of  Jerusalem  for  sin  and  uncleanness."  If 
any  experience  has  been  gained  during  a  ministry 
of  some  years,  I  would  say,  Preach  on  sin.  Con- 
\dction  of  sin  is  the  rugged  path  that  leads  to  the 
**  fountain  filled  with  blood."  The  people  stay 
away  from  Christ  hecause — 

' '  The  only  fitness  he  requireth 
Is  to  feel  your  need  of  him. " 

Let  us  lead  them  to  the  garden  of  Eden,  that 
earthly  paradise,  where  our  first  parents  were 
placed  on  probation,  and  let  them  in  contrast 
behold  the  sad  picture  of  the  fall  and  all  its  dire- 
ful consequences.  They  are  to  know  the  ways  of 
sin.  "Wherefore,  as  by  one  man  sin  entered  into 
the  world,  and  death  by  sin ;  and  so  death  passed 
upon  all  men,  for  that  all  have  sinned."  The 
enumeration  must  be  minute ;  sins  of  thought, 
word,  and  deed — "body,  mouth,  and  heart,"  as 
they  express  it — sins  great  and  small,  accidental 
and  besetting,  secret  and  open,  omission  and  com- 
mission ;  that  we  sin  yearly,  monthly,  daily,  hourly, 
momentarily;  and  of  the  wrath  of  God  "revealed 
from  heaven  against  all  ungodhness  and  unright- 
eousness of  men  who  hold  the  truth  in  unright- 
eousness." 

A  few  years'  experience  "svill  enable  one  to  illus- 
trate   the    dishonesty    that    pervades    the    social 


The  Light  of  Ethics.  165 

fabric ;  the  divers  weights  and  measures ;  the 
"  squeezes  "  in  making  purchases  for  others ;  the 
extortion  in  the  government  offices,  and  the  want 
of  rectitude  in  financial  transactions.  To  enlarge 
upon  the  sins  of  speech,  of  their  facility  in  un- 
blushing hes,  and  also  of  the  fearful  amount  of 
profanity  that  proceeds  from  the  lips  of  men, 
women,  and  prattling  children,  "their  throat  is 
an  open  sepulchre ;  with  their  tongues  they  have 
used  deceit;  the  poison  of  asps  is  under  their 
lips  :  whose  mouth  is  full  of  cursing  and  bitter- 
ness." 

Sin  is  to  be  compared  with  debt ;  and  where  is 
the  Chinaman  without  debt  ?  The  magnitude  of 
the  debt  is  like  the  servant  who  owed  10,000 
piculs  of  silver,  or  like  the  late  banker  Ho,  of 
Hangchow,  who,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  due 
the  government  sixteen  million  taels.  Sin  is  to  be 
presented  as  a  disease,  which  affects  the  whole 
body,  is  universal,  is  handed  down  from  our 
parents,  and  which  the  physicians  cannot  cure. 
The  dreadful  character  of  one  single  sin  must  be 
spoken  of.  One  link  broken,  and  the  chain  is 
broken  ;  with  one  crack  the  mirror  is  ruined ;  one 
wheel  out  of  order  and  the  wheel  stops  ;  the  pirate 
one  robbery,  and  the  murderer  one  victim,  and 
the  death  warrant  is  signed ;  so  every  sin  deserves 


166  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

God's  wrath  and  cui'se.  Men  are  "dead  in  tres- 
passes of  sins  " ;  hands  unable  to  perform  a  right 
action,  feet  that  cannot  walk  the  heavenly  road, 
ears  deaf  to  the  message  of  salvation,  eyes  that 
cannot  see  the  truth,  hearts  which  are  unable  to 
believe,  just  as  the  paralytic  brought  by  foui'  men 
to  Jesus.  Here  in  China  is  the  valley  in  which 
Ezekiel  saw  the  bones,  "and  behold!  there  were 
very  many  in  the  open  valley ;  and  lo !  they  were 
very  dry."  Six  times  are  the  words  of  Isaiah, 
which  were  quoted  by  Christ  to  explain  the  para- 
ble of  the  sower,  used  in  Scripture.  "By  hearing 
ye  shall  hear,  and  shall  not  understand ;  and  see- 
ing ye  shall  see,  and  shall  not  perceive  :  for  this 
people's  heart  is  waxed  gross,  and  their  ears  are 
dull  of  hearing,  and  their  eyes  they  have  closed ; 
lest  at  any  time  they  shall  see  with  their  eyes  and 
hear  with  their  ears,  and  should  understand  with 
their  heart,  and  should  be  converted,  and  I  should 
heal  them."  Jesus  said  to  the  Jews,  "  Ye  are  of 
your  father  the  de\il,  and  the  lusts  of  your  father 
ye  will  do.  He  was  a  murderer  from  the  begin- 
ning, and  abode  not  in  the  truth,  because  there  is 
no  truth  in  him.  When  he  speaketh  a  lie,  he 
speaketh  of  his  own;  for  he  is  a  Har,  and  the 
father  of  it."  As  a  matter  of  observation,  I  never 
have   such  fixed   and    earnest    attention   from   a 


The  Light  of  Ethics.  16.7 

heathen  audience  as  when  the  topics  are  "dead 
in  sin  "  and  "  children  of  the  devil." 

He,  "  the  prince  of  the  power  of  the  air,"  seems 
to  hold  special  control  over  the  hearts  and  minds 
of  the  Chinese,  and  the  nation  is  peculiarly  under 
his  dominion.  "Where  upon  the  face  of  the  earth 
has  devil-worship  assumed  such  multiform  and 
divers  kinds  of  homage  ?  The  very  intellectual 
ability  of  the  people  seems  keenly  ahve  in  consid- 
ering the  relations  of  spirits  to  men,  and  their  in- 
genuity is  taxed  to  the  utmost  in  devising  ways 
and  means  to  ward  off  the  attacks  of  the  legions 
of  de^T-ls.  The  gospel  preacher  is  to  study  the 
scores  of  chapters  of  Holy  Writ  which  denounce 
the  fearful  sin  of  idolatry.  Though  taught  by 
patriarch  and  prophet,  Israel  would  not  learn  the 
great  lesson  of  her  national  life  till  after  the  cap- 
tivity. How  often  were  the  chosen  people  pun- 
ished and  their  cities  laid  waste  just  for  this  one 
sin!  By  what  figures  of  speech  did  the  writers 
of  old,  inspired  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  describe  leav- 
ing the  ordinances  of  Jehovah  and  following  after 
false  gods?  There  is  danger  that  men,  from 
sympathy  for  the  unfortunate  pagan,  lose  their 
jealousy  for  the  glory  of  Jehovah,  and  forget  the 
fearfulness  of  the  crime  and  the  guilt  of  the  j)er- 
petrators.     God,  in  the  moral  law,  describes  idol- 


168  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

aters  as  **  those  that  hate  me."  Ezekiel  tells  of 
the  '  images  of  their  abominations,"  and  Peter 
speaks  of  the  "abominable  idolatries."  What  a 
fearful  picture  the  former  gives  us  of  the  "wicked 
abominations"  "portrayed  upon  the  wall"  "in 
the  chambers  of  his  imagery  "  !  The  condition  of 
Peking  is  just  as  abhorrent  in  the  eyes  of  the 
Most  High  as  was  that  oi  heathen  Rome  as  it 
was  described  by  the  apostle  to  the  Gentiles. 
"  Professing  themselves  to  be  wise,  they  became 
fools,  and  changed  the  glory  of  the  incorruptible 
God  into  an  image  made  like  to  corruptible 
man.  .  .  .  AYho  changed  the  truth  of  God  into  a 
lie,  and  worshipped  and  served  the  creatuie  more 
than  the  Creator.  .  .  .  And  even  as  they  did  not 
like  to  retain  God  in  their  knowledge,  God  gave 
them  over  to  a  reprobate  mind,  to  do  those  things 
which  are  not  convenient."  As  heathenism  is  the 
ancestor  of  vice,  the  aggravated  guilt  of  the  idola- 
ter must  be  fearfully  set  forth.  The  axe  must  be 
laid  at  the  root  of  the  tree  if  the  way  is  to  be 
prepared  for  the  glorious  advent  of  the  Messenger 
of  the  Covenant. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

PREACHINa   ChEIST. 

AFTER  the  death  of  the  proto-martyr  the  perse- 
cution waxed  hot,  and  the  disciples  fled  from 
Jerusalem.  "  Therefore  they  that  were  scattered 
abroad  went  everywhere  preaching  the  word. 
Then  Phihp  went  down  to  the  city  of  Samaria, 
and  preached  Christ  unto  them.  And  the  people 
with  one  accord  gave  heed  unto  those  things 
which  Phihp  spake."  The  servants  of  the  Most 
High  follow  the  example  of  the  evangelist  and 
preach  Christ,  his  person  and  glory.  Protestants 
are  denominated  in  China  the  "Jesus'  Church," 
and  as  this  sign  is  over  our  chapel  doors  the  people 
ask,  "  Who  is  this  whom  you  preach?"  We  give 
an  account  of  the  life  and  character  of  our  Lord, 
teUing  how  he  preached  the  gospel,  gathered  dis- 
ciples, performed  miracles,  and  blessed  mankind. 
The  inquiry  comes,  must  our  teachings  be  drawn 
entirely  from  the  gospel  narrative,  or  are  there 
intuitions  in  the  Chinese  mind  and  factors  in  their 
national  economy  by  which  we  can  illustrate  the 
prominent  features  in  the  history  of  the  Man  of 
Gahlee  ?  We  can  answer  in  the  affirmative  that 
15  169 


170  Pee  ACHING  in  Sinim. 

there  are  facts  in  their  patriarchal  institutions 
which  stand  as  pulpit-rocks  for  the  preachers  of 
the  new  religion.  Amidst  the  fearful  array  of 
difficulties  which  confront  the  advancing  pickets  it 
is  a  matter  of  devout  thankfulness  that  in  the  gov- 
ernment and  social  customs  of  this  nation,  which 
has  survived  the  march  of  centuries  and  the 
wrecks  of  kingdoms,  there  are  fundamental  princi- 
ples on  which  we  may  base  our  expositions.  In 
going  to  any  pagan  country  we  expect  to  find  false 
gods  and  to  tell  the  people  of  the  true  God,  but  in 
Sinim  we  may  tell  there  is  "One  God,"  and  also 
find  a  basis  for  our  teachings  concerning  the  "One 
Mediator  between  God  and  man." 

Christ  the  Mediator. 
It  is  a  privilege  to  set  forth  the  mediatorial 
character  of  Christ  in  thought  and  language  that 
the  people  daily  use.  The  whole  structure  of  the 
Chinese  social  and  pohtical  economy  is  based 
upon  the  use  of  the  "middle-man."  No  one 
thinks  of  employing  a  servant  unless  there  is 
some  one  to  recommend  him,  and  the  party  re- 
commending is  held  responsible  for  any  misde- 
meanors of  the  underHng.  A  stranger  with  no 
one  to  stand  his  security  would  not  be  able  to 
get  a  position  in  any  respectable  family.     A  clerk 


Preaching  Christ.  171 

would  not  apply  for  a  situation  in  person — he 
would  be  rejected  if  lie  did — but  requests  a  friend 
who  is  an  acquaintance  of  the  merchant  to  inter- 
cede in  his  behalf.  Often  the  friend  cannot  do 
this  directly,  but  speaks  to  a  third  party  who  has 
influence  with  the  employer.  No  youth  is  allowed 
to  enter  the  examination  haU  without  having  a 
former  graduate — an  alumnus  of  the  college  of 
letters — to  act  as  security  for  his  good  behavior. 
In  the  important  business  of  marriage  the  con- 
tracting parties  have  no  voice  in  the  matter,  and 
their  future  destiny  is  in  the  hands  of  go-betweens. 
In  renting  a  house  a  tenant  does  not  seek  the  land- 
lord, but  the  whole  transaction  is  conducted  by 
trusty  intermediaries.  The  title-deeds  to  real 
estate  have  the  names  of  the  negotiators  and  of 
the  one  who  stands  security  written  upon  them. 
Business  in  the  government  offices  is  transacted 
by  influential  friends  who  have  the  ear  of  the 
official.  There  is  a  graduated  scale  of  fees  for  aU 
of  these  services. 

In  the  department  of  religion  there  are  ex- 
amples of  mediatorship.  The  kitchen-god  at  the 
old  year  is  supposed  to  ascend  to  heaven  and  tell 
the  Pearly  Emperor  of  all  that  the  family  has  done 
during  the  twelve  months ;  and  they,  by  sweeten- 
ing his  lips  as  he  starts  upon  his  journey,  hope  to 


172  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

secure  a  favorable  report  of  their  deeds.  Near 
the  temple  of  the  Pearly  Emperor  is  a  smaller 
one  for  the  mediator  of  hades.  The  worshipper 
first  goes  to  the  shrine,  burns  incense,  and  re- 
quests him  to  intercede  above  and  obtain  permis- 
sion for  him  to  worship  the  god  of  gods.  Even 
when  the  smaller  gods  come  to  pay  their  respects 
to  the  highest  in  the  pantheon,  they  first  go 
before  the  mediator  and  ask  him  to  obtain  for 
them  an  audience  before  Jupiter  Optimus  Maxi- 
mus. 

So  common  is  the  employment  of  middlemen, 
and  so  simple  is  the  thought,  that  the  Chinese 
accept  it  as  a  first-truth.  "We  are  often  asked,  "If 
we  join  your  church  must  we  have  some  one  to  act 
as  surety?"  and  the  direct  answer  includes  the 
great  fundamental  principles  of  salvation.  That 
Christ  would  stand  as  bondsman  for  a  stranger  or 
for  a  sinner  fills  them  with  surprise.  Nearly  the 
whole  of  the  Kedeemer's  work  can  be  presented 
under  this — to  the  Chinese — simple  concept.  His 
standing  between  God  and  man,  his  pleading  our 
cause,  his  acting  as  the  mediator  of  the  new  cove- 
nant, his  offering  up  our  prayers,  his  opening  the 
gate  of  heaven,  his  pledge  of  eternal  rest,  can  all 
be  expressed  in  such  simple  terms  that  a  Httle 
Chinese  child  comprehends  the  meaning. 


Preaching  Christ.  173 

The  Federal  Headship. 

In  no  country  can  the  doctrine  of  Christ  the 
Head  of  his  redeemed  be  so  fully  illustrated  as  in 
China.  Many  reasons  have  been  assigned  for  the 
stabihty  of  Chinese  institutions  and  of  the  govern- 
ment that  has  stood  for  forty  centuries,  but  of  these, 
second  to  none  is  the  federal  relation  between 
prince  and  subjects,  or  the  legal  responsibility  of 
the  one  for  the  other.  When  Christ  became  the 
shepherd  of  his  sheep — for  whom  he  died — he 
assumed  all  their  obligations  and  stood  before  God 
as  their  sponsor.  The  race  of  believers  were 
grouped  under  a  federal  head  and  representative. 
It  was  a  responsible  undertaking,  but  in  the  accep- 
tance and  performance  of  this  responsible  trust  lies 
the  hope  of  the  redeemed.  The  civic  code  of  the 
middle  kingdom  abundantly  illustrates  the  princi- 
ple of  representation,  this  prominent  doctrine  of 
revelation. 

In  China  there  is  a  legal  unity  between  the  gov- 
ernor and  the  governed.  The  Mandarin  is  held 
responsible  for  all  that  occurs  within  his  territory. 
If  there  is  a  murder,  the  alternative  is  to  find  the 
murderer  or  lose  his  office.  Blood  is  required 
where  blood  is  shed,  and  till  the  man-slayer  is 
produced,  the  official  is  not  held  guiltless.  The 
rulers  are  the  fathers  and  mothers  of  the  people, 


174  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

and  are  accountable  to  the  Emperor,  not  only  for 
the  faithful  discharge  of  their  personal  duties,  but 
for  the  peace  and  quiet  of  their  subjects.  If  there 
is  a  disturbance  or  an  insurrection,  the  theory  and 
practice  is  that  his  rule  should  have  been  so  wise 
and  watchful  as  to  prevent  these  demonstrations 
of  violence.  The  fact  that  he  is  amenable  for  the 
acts  of  those  within  his  jurisdiction  makes  the  Man- 
darin doubly  guarded  in  his  administration.  They 
are  not  forced  to  take  office,  but  voluntarily  assume 
these  res]3onsibilities.  If  there  is  a  theft,  in  case 
the  stolen  property  is  not  recovered,  the  tipao,  or 
constable,  is  bambooed.  This  holding  the  police- 
man, or  protector  of  the  peace  responsible  for  all 
that  occurs  in  his  ward,  tends  much  to  maintain 
good  order. 

Two  years  ago,  as  the  manacles  were  removed 
from  the  prisoners  at  China  New  Year,  by  over- 
powering the  wardens,  ten  robbers — two  of  them 
noted  ones — escaped  from  the  prefectural  gaol. 
The  only  notice  the  provincial  governor  took  of 
the  case  was  to  take  away  the  Prefect's  button. 
The  alternative  was  to  catch  the  fugitives  or  leave 
his  office  in  disgrace.  The  matter  touched  the 
hearts,  the  pockets,  and  the  positions  of  two  hun- 
dred men  in  the  Tamen,  and  there  was  great  ex- 
citement.    The  Prefect  offered  $10,000—11,000   a 


Preaching  Christ.  175 

head. — for  their  arrest.  The  whole  energy  of  the 
Yamen  was  directed  to  catching  the  convicts,  and 
messengers  were  dispatched  to  their  respective 
homes.  The  soldiers  and  the  police  were  active, 
and  in  a  short  time  nine  out  of  the  ten  were  cap- 
tured. The  Prefect's  insignia  of  rank  were  imme- 
diately restored.  In  Chinese  law  the  jailer  was 
not  the  responsible  party  in  the  first  degree,  bui. 
his  chief,  who  is  the  governor  of  ten  counties. 

In  the  Northwest  a  private  soldier  during  a  long 
period  stole,  a  little  at  a  time,  a  quantity  of  lard 
which  was  entrusted  to  his  charge,  to  the  value  of 
ten  or  fifteen  dollars.  It  was  afterwards  discov- 
ered and  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  Board  of  War. 
The  soldier  was  beaten,  his  captain  cashiered,  the 
colonel  removed,  and  the  general  censured.  Why  ? 
There  was  clear  proof  of  a  lack  of  disciphne  in  the 
army. 

Some  years  ago  a  leading  American  house  sent 
forty-four  shoes  of  sycee  into  the  Chehkiang  pro- 
vince to  buy  tea,  and  they  were  stolen  on  the  road. 
The  firm  informed  the  Consul,  the  Consul  dis- 
patched the  Taotai,  the  Taotai  informed  the  Futai 
at  Hangchow,  and  he  simply  arrested  the  presi- 
dents of  two  boat  hongs.  Their  families  made 
inquiries  on  what  boats  the  silver  was  carried,  sent 
runners  to  the  homes  of  the  boatmen  and  found 


176  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

fortj-two  pieces  buried  beneath  their  beds.  The 
heads  of  the  boat  companies  were  responsible  for 
the  acts  of  the  sailors. 

A  year  ago  the  son  of  the  compradore  of  the 
French  Bank  in  Shanghai  tried  to  get  Taels  (200) 
from  his  father  to  pay  an  indebtedness.  On  his 
refusal  the  son  invited  the  party  to  whom  he  owed 
the  money  to  a  tea-shop  and  asked  for  an  indefi- 
nite time  in  which  to  pay  it,  and  when  the  latter 
decHned  the  lad  shot  him  dead,  and  then  blew  out 
his  own  brains  with  the  same  pistol.  After  allow- 
ing the  father  due  time  to  recover  from  the  shock, 
the  Taotai  and  District  Magistrate,  in  view  of  this 
bloodshed,  made  him  financial  overtures.  As  his 
property  was  in  danger  he,  under  advice  from  the 
manager  of  the  bank,  offered  by  telegraph  to 
Ti  Hung  Chang  a  subscription  of  Taels  (10,000) 
for  famine  relief,  if  he  would  secure  him  against 
the  squeezes  of  these  two  Mandarins.  The  offer 
was  accepted,  and  the  officials  were  chagrined  to 
find  themselves  powerless  to  fleece  such  a  fat 
sheep.  Their  indictment  was,  "You,  as  a  father, 
failed  in  training  your  son,  and  so  are  responsible 
for  his  misdemeanors." 

The  subject  may  be  indefinitely  illustrated. 
When  we  speak  of  Jesus  as  the  representative 
of   his  people,  of  his  standing  for  them  in  the 


Peeaching  Christ.  177 

covenant  of  grace,  of  the  whole  responsibihty  of 
their  salvation  being  centered  in  his  person,  and  of 
the  legal  unity  of  the  head  and  members,  the  Chi- 
nese understand  the  scheme  as  having  its  founda- 
tion in  law  and  its  superstructure  in  equity. 

Christ,  the  Sacrifice. 
"The  idea  of  expiation  is  found  in  the  earher 
and  later  history  of  China."  It  is  a  solemn  event 
when  the  Emperor,  the  vicegerent  of  heaven,  the 
high-priest  of  the  nation,  in  his  vicarious  character 
decends  from  his  throne,  robes  himself  in  sack- 
cloth, makes  pubhc  confession,  becomes  the  sub- 
stitute for  his  people  and  appears  as  the  sin-bearer. 
During  seven  years  of  famine,  B.  C.  1766,  the 
Emperor  Tang  ''fasted,  cut  off  his  hair  and  nails, 
and  in  a  plain  cart  drawn  by  white  horses,  clad  in 
rushes,  the  guise  of  a  sacrificial  victim,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  a  forest  of  mulberry  trees  and  there 
prayed."  He  said,  ''When  guilt  is  found  any- 
where in  you  who  occupy  the  myriad  regions,  let 
it  rest  on  me,  the  One  Man.  When  guilt  is  found 
in  me,  the  One  Man,  it  shall  not  attach  to  you." 
Thirty-six  centuries  after,  July  24,  1832,  in  the 
time  of  severe  drought,  the  Emperor  Taokwang 
offered  the  following  prayer :  "Oh!  alas!  Imperial 
Heaven!  .  .  .  this  year  the  drought  is  most  un- 


178  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

■Qsual.  Summer  is  past,  and  no  rain  lias  fallen.  .  . 
I,  the  minister  of  heaven,  am  placed  over  mankind, 
and  am  responsible  for  keeping  the  world  in  order 
and  for  tranquilizing  the  people.  ...  I  examine 
myself  and  consider  my  errors,  looking  up  and 
hoping  that  I  may  obtain  pardon.  .  .  .  Prostrate 
I  beg  Imperial  Heaven  to  pardon  my  ignorance  and 
stupidity,  and  to  grant  me  self-renovation,  for  my- 
riads of  people  are  involved  by  me,  the  One  Man." 
There  was  a  noted  case  in  this  city  when  the 
Literary  Chancellor,  who  was  condemned  for  sell- 
ing degrees,  was  spared  because  his  son  took  the 
father's  place  at  the  execution  ground  and  lost  his 
head.  Often  in  country  riots  and  insurrections 
where  blood  has  been  shed,  one  man,  whose  family 
has  been  liberally  provided  for  by  the  survivors, 
steps  forward,  announces  himself  as  the  man- 
slayer,  and  receives  capital  punishment.  There 
is  no  difficulty  in  getting  a  heathen  audience  to 
understand  the  account  of  Christ's  sufferings  as 
given  by  Isaiah  in  the  fifty-third  chapter  of  his 
prophecies.  As  the  beloved  disciple  wrote,  "And 
he  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins :  and  not  for 
ours  only,  but  also  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world." 
From  this  topic  it  is  easy  to  pass  to 

Cheist's  Humanity 
as  a  suitable  subject  on  which  to  address  a  heathen 


Preaching  Christ.  179 

audience.  That  God  is  a  Spirit,  the  great  eternal 
I  Am,  is  too  infinite  a  thought  for  poor  worms  of 
the  dust.  The  pagan  seeks  communion  with  beings 
in  bodily  shape,  not  far  removed  from  his  mortal 
sphere,  who  can  understand  his  necessities.  Thus 
Buddhism,  with  her  myriads  of  gods,  appeals  to 
the  feebleness  of  man.  How  completely  the  Man 
of  Judea  is  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  Jew  and 
Gentile.  He  is  "in  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh.' 
"xind  the  word  was  made  flesh  and  dwelt  among 
us."  "No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time;  the 
only  begotten  Son,  which  is  in  the  bosom  of  the 
Father,  he  hath  declared  him."  Come  to  Jesus. 
He  was  born  a  babe,  grew  in  childhood  years, 
walked  on  earth,  talked  with  men,  worked  in  his 
shop,  ate,  slept  and  was  weary,  held  intercourse 
with  friends,  was  joyous,  was  sorrowful,  he  hved, 
he  died  and  was  buried,  and  we,  Hke  him,  shall 
rise  again.  "Wherefore  it  behooved  him  to  be 
made  Hke  unto  his  brethren."  Is  man  tempted? 
"  For  in  that  he  himself  hath  suffered,  be- 
ing tempted,  he  is  able  to  succor  them  that  are 
tempted."  Is  he  in  want  of  sympathy?  "For  we 
have  not  an  high  priest  which  cannot  be  touched 
with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmities."  Is  he  unlet- 
tered? "Who  can  have  compassion  on  the  igno- 
rant, and  on  them  that  are  out  of  the  way."     Does 


180  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

lie  wisli  to  pray?     ''Let  us,  therefore,  come  boldly 
unto  the  throne  of  grace."     Jesns  was  the  Son  of 

Man. 

The  Divinity  of  Our  Loed. 

The  Chinese  are  willing  to  acknowledge  Jesus  as 
the  great  sage  of  the  west,  the  peer  of  Confucius, 
but  to  recognize  Jesus  the  Saviour  and  Confucius 
the  teacher,  Jesus  the  Lord  and  Confucius  the 
subject,  Jesus  the  creator  and  Confucius  the  crea- 
ture, Jesus  as  divine  and  Confucius  as  human,  is  a 
doctrine  they  utterly  repudiate.  It  is  just  here 
that  Christianity  and  Confucianism  stand  at  the 
opposite  poles.  One  of  the  four  subjects  upon 
which  Confucius  said  he  did  not  discourse  was 
concerning  the  gods.  He  knew  nothing  about 
religion  and  beheved  less,  so  he  taught  nothing. 
Jesus  came  to  teach  divinity ;  he  declared  that  he 
himself  was  God.  This  is  the  battle-field,  and 
here  the  soldiers  of  Christ  must  expect  a  bloody 
conflict. 

Simon  Peter  was  the  first  to  declare  fully  and 
forcibly  this  fundamental  doctrine  when  he  said 
to  his  Lord,  "Thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the 
living  God."  Jesus  said  upon  this  confession 
{petra)  he  would  build  his  church.  From  the  way 
the  Master  spoke  to  his  disciple  we  may  infer  that 
this  is  a  very  practical  tenet  of  theology:  "  Blessed 


Preaching  Chkist.  181 

art  thou,  Simon  Barjona,  for  flesh  and  blood  hath 
not  revealed  it  unto  thee,  but  my  Father  which  is 
in  heaven."  It  is  necessary  to  salvation  that  men 
accept  Jesus  as  divine,  for  he  himself  says:  "If  ye 
believe  not  that  I  am  he,  ye  shall  die  in  your  sins." 
As  we  go  forth  among  the  heathen  we  can  proclaim 
this  truth  as  the  door  to  fellowship  with  God's  peo- 
ple. When  the  eunuch  confessed,  "I  beUeve  that 
Jesus  Christ  is  the  Son  of  God,"  he  was  imme- 
diately baptized. 

In  this  brief  section  we  will  not  consider  the 
testimony  of  the  four  evangelists  which  fill  the 
pages  of  the  Gospels,  nor  the  glorious  paeans  of 
the  PauHne  epistles.  The  miracles  of  Christ  as 
witnesses  for  his  divinity,  and  the  transcendent 
testimony  of  his  resurrection  from  the  dead  as 
when  he  said,  "  I  lay  down  my  hf  e  that  I  might  take 
it  again.  ...  I  have  power  to  lay  it  down 
and  I  have  power  to  take  it  again,"  will  not  be 
mentioned.  Only  one  witness  is  presented,  and 
that  is  Christ  himself. 

To  aU   the  attributes  of  God  he  lays  a  personal 

claim.       Is    God    eternal?      Jesus    said,    "Before 

Abraham  was,  I  am,"  using  the  self-existent  title 

by    which    Jehovah    announced    himself    on    the 

Mount  of  God.     Is  God  omnipresent  ?     Christ  said, 

"  Where  two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  my 
16 


182  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

name,  there  am  I  in  the  midst  of  them."  Is  God 
omnipotent?  "All  power  is  given  unto  me  in 
heaven  and  in  earth,"  says  the  Master.  Is  God 
omniscient  ?  "As  the  Father  knoweth  me,  even  so 
know  I  the  Father,"  thus  laying  claim  to  a  know- 
ledge of  the  infinite.  He  says,  "I  and  my  Father 
are  one."  He  reveals  God  to  men.  How  expres- 
sive are  the  pronouns  in  these  words  of  our  Jesus  : 
"  If  a  man  love  me  he  will  keep  my  words,  and  my 
Father  will  love  him,  and  we  will  come  unto  him 
and  make  oui-  abode  with  him." 

He  speaks  of  himself  as  the  light  of  the  world, 
the  shepherd  of  a  countless  flock,  the  vine  from 
which  the  branches  obtain  nourishment,  the  way, 
truth  and  hie,  the  door  of  heaven,  the  Hving  bread, 
the  water  of  life,  the  resurrection  and  the  Hfe. 
He  was  before  Abraham  ;  of  him  Moses  wrote,  and 
David  called  him  Lord.  He  was  greater  than 
Solomon  and  the  temple,  and  declared  himself 
Lord  of  the  Sabbath.  He  requires  faith  and  love 
and  obedience,  and  while  upon  earth  was  the 
constant  object  of  worship.  His  invitations  were 
to  all  the  weary  and  heavy  laden ;  to  the  widow, 
the  orphan,  the  tempted,  the  persecuted  and  the 
sin-burdened  to  come  to  him  and  find  rest.  He 
is  the  mediator  in  prayer,  has  ability  to  forgive 
sin,   and  is  the  architect  of  heaven.     His  dying 


Preaching  Christ.  183 

testimony  at  Pilate's  tribunal  was  to  his  divinity. 
Jesus  is  the  resurrection.  It  was  a  stupendous 
act  of  power  to  restore  Lazarus  to  life,  but  the 
same  voice  is  to  be  heard  by  milHons  upon  mil- 
hons  who  sleep  in  their  graves.  He  is  to  judge 
all  men,  all  actions,  all  words,  all  thoughts,  and  to 
impartiaUy  bestow  rewards.  He  foretells  his  glory 
when  men  "  shall  see  heaven  open  and  the  angels 
of  God  ascending  and  descending  upon  the  Son 
of  man."  The  questions,  then,  that  the  missionary 
is  to  press  upon  the  heart  and  conscience  of  a 
heathen  congregation  are,  "What  think  ye  of 
Christ?"  "Whom  say  ye  that  I  am?"  When  we 
behold  the  calmness  of  his  assertions  when  he 
offers  to  forgive  sin,  renew  the  heart,  save  from 
sin  and  heU  and  bestow  immortality  and  eternal 
hfe,  we  may  exclaim,  Christus,  si  non  Deus,  non 
honus. 

The  minister  must  also  preach  Christ  as 

The  Magnet  of  the  Church. 
Jesus  said,  "And  I,  if  I  be  hfted  up  from  the 
earth,  wiU  draw  all  men  unto  me."  This  he  said 
signifying  what  death  he  should  die,  and  foretell- 
ing the  power  of  the  cross  to  attract  the  nations. 
The  apostle,  in  his  message  to  the  Gentiles,  said, 
"We  preach  Christ   crucified";    that  is,  in  pro- 


184  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

claiming  the  gospel  he  gave  prominence  to  the 
doctrine  of  the  blood.  "  Christ  died  for  the  un- 
godly," "it  is  Christ  that  died,"  "Jesus  died." 
This  was  the  foundation  of  the  whole  scheme  of 
salvation.  Let  one  note  how  often  "  cross," 
"blood,"  "sacrifice,"  "offering,"  "satisfaction," 
"  propitiation,"  "  priesthood,"  "  lamb,"  "  Re- 
deemer," "salvation,"  and  kindred  words  are 
used  in  reference  to  the  death  of  Christ.  Paul 
went  further  and  declared,  "  God  forbid  that  I 
should  glory  save  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ."  It  was  his  chief  joy  and  honor  to  tell  of 
the  cross,  and  so  with  all  the  messengers  of  salva- 
tion, as  they  go  to  the  remotest  ends  of  the  earth. 
All  the  attributes  of  Jesus  circle  round  the  cross. 
His  name  pointed  to  Calvary,  and  there  did  he 
save  his  people  from  their  sins.  Was  Christ 
meek  and  lowly  in  heart  ?  "  He  was  oppressed, 
and  he  was  afflicted,  yet  he  opened  not  his 
mouth :  he  is  brought  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter, 
and  as  a  sheep  before  her  shearers  is  dumb,  so  he 
openeth  not  his  mouth."  Did  he  impress  upon 
his  disciples  the  duty  of  forgiving  enemies  ?  But 
what  were  his  words  compared  with  his  example, 
as  he  hung  upon  the  tree,  "Father,  forgive 
them;  they  know  not  what  they  do!"  Was  he 
subject   to   his    parents   in   his    youth  ?     On   the 


Preaching  Christ.  185 

cross,  when  in  the  agony  of  a  cruel  death  he 
made  provision  for  his  mother,  there  was  a  tri- 
umphant manifestation  of  fihal  duty.  Did  Christ 
say,  *'The  Son  of  man  is  come  to  seek  and  save 
the  lost"?  What  greater  proof  that  when  he 
bade  the  robber  accompany  him  to  Paradise ! 
Did  he  love  his  own  and  love  them  to  the  end  ? 
"The  good  Shepherd  giveth  his  life  for  the 
sheep."  If  one  preaches  Christ,  he  must  of  ne- 
cessity preach  the  cross. 

All  the  attributes  of  Jehovah  are  beautifully 
harmonized  in  the  cross  of  our  Kedeemer: 
"Mercy  and  truth  are  met  together;  righteous- 
ness and  peace  have  kissed  each  other.  Truth 
shall  spring  out  of  the  earth,  and  righteousness 
shall  look  down  from  heaven."  Justice  claimed 
the  sinner's  death ;  mercy  pleaded  for  his  hfe. 
The  truth  of  Jehovah  demanded  the  punishment 
of  the  guilty ;  love  offered  a  substitute  in  his  room 
and  stead.  Hatred  of  sin  and  affection  for  the 
sinner  were  both  wondrously  displayed. 

There  is  no  place  in  sacred  story  where  the 
prophets  so  unite  in  a  grand  chorus  as  at  the 
cross,  and  even  the  heathen  may  understand  how 
holy  men  of  old  told  of  the  death  of  the  Son  of 
God.  The  Saviour,  whose  sufferings  with  the 
eye  of  prescience  they  beheld,  now  hung  upon  the 


186  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

tree.  His  ancestor,  the  great  King  of  Israel, 
there  tuned  his  harp,  and  the  evangelical  pro- 
phet, who  so  eloquently  preached  of  the  dying 
Messiah,  now  knew  how  accurate  was  his  descrip- 
tion. 

Gethsemane,  with  its  "bloody  sweat,"  and  the 
mocking,  scourging,  and  crowning  with  thorns 
at  Pilate's  tribunal,  are  scenes  which  impress  a 
Chinese  audience.  The  high  priestly  office  in 
the  solemn  temple  services  may  be  distinctly  set 
forth  as  prefiguring  the  great  High  Priest  who 
was  to  make  atonement  for  the  sins  of  his  people. 
The  quickness  of  a  Chinese  execution,  when  the 
head  is  severed  from  the  neck  with  one  stroke  of 
the  knife,  places  in  contrast  the  lingering,  tor- 
turing death  by  crucifixion.  No  wonder  the 
apostle  wrote  to  the  Gentiles  about  the  "' accursed 
death  of  the  cross."  He  could  say,  "Christ  hath 
redeemed  us  from  the  curse  of  the  law,  being 
made  a  curse  for  us;  for  it  is  written.  Cursed  is 
every  one  that  hangeth  on  a  tree." 

The  bloodless  character  of  Buddhism,  with  its 
horror  of  animal  sacrifices  and  its  scheme  of  salva- 
tion by  meritorious  deeds,  stands  in  contrast 
with  the  cross.  With  them  it  is  "every  man  his 
own  Saviour,"  and  they  know  not  the  righteous- 
ness of  another  imputed  to  them  and  received  by 


Pkeaching  Cheist.  187 

faith  alone.  The  peoples  of  the  earth  must  have 
looked  upon  Judea  as  a  bloody  nation.  The 
daily  sacrifices,  the  multitude  of  victims  offered 
on  the  day  of  atonement,  and  the  great  occasions, 
as  when  King  Solomon  "  offered  a  sacrifice  of 
peace-offerings,  which  he  offered  unto  the  Lord, 
two  and  twenty  thousand  oxen  and  an  hundred 
and  twenty  thousand  sheep,"  and  blood  ran  down 
the  sides  of  Mount  Moriah,  must  have  impressed 
all  who  beheld  the  august  worship.  In  the  cross 
all  the  types  and  shadows  of  the  ceremonial  law 
were  fulfilled.  By  one  sacrifice  never  to  be  re- 
peated Christ  made  an  all-sufficient  atonement 
for  the  sins  of  his  people.  "  But  now  once  in  the 
end  of. the  world  hath  he  appeared  to  put  away 
sin  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself.  And  as  it  is  ap- 
pointed unto  men  once  to  die,  but  after  this  the 
judgment,  so  Christ  was  once  offered  to  bear  the  sins 
of  many."  In  this  onceness  that  the  sacred  writer 
insists  upon  Christianity  is  totally  unhke  Confu- 
-cianism.  Offerings  are  made  to  their  ancestors 
at  every  feast,  and  in  the  1,500  "Temj)les  of  Lit- 
erature," at  the  spring  and  autumn  sacrifices 
135,000  animals — bulls,  sheep,  and  hogs — are 
placed  before  the  tablets  of  Confucius  and  his 
company  of  wise  men,  besides  the  animals  offered 
in  sacrifice  to  the  gods  of  war,  of  hterature,  of  the 


188  PREACHINa  IN  SiNIM. 

wind,  sun,  stars,  etc.  The  stream  so  pure  and 
clear  wliich  flowed  from  the  foot  of  Ararat  has 
been  diverted  into  the  channels  of  hterature,  and 
the  muddy  currents  bring  devastation  to  the  reli- 
gious aspirations  of  the  nation.  "  For  the  law  .  .  . 
can  never  with  those  sacrifices  which  they  offered 
year  by  year  make  the  comers  thereunto  perfect." 
The  Confucian  sacrifices  are  powerless  to  effect  a 
moral  reformation.  The  Chinese,  as  a  nation, 
have  not  yet  learned  that  the  shedding  of  blood 
must  cease.     "  Christ  was  once  offered." 

The  Gentiles  are  to  be  taught  the  infinite  value 
of  Jesus'  blood,  "the  precious  blood";  or,  as  Paul 
charged  the  Ephesian  elders,  "Feed  the  church 
oi  God,  which  he  hath  purchased  with  his  own 
blood."  They  are  to  be  told  that  "Without  shed- 
ding of  blood  there  is  no  remission";  and  that 
"The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  from  all 
sin."  It  is  Jesus,  "the  Lamb  slain  before  the 
foundation  of  the  world,"  the  Lamb  of  God  upon 
Calvary,  and  "the  Lamb  that  was  slain,"  but  now 
in  heaven  is  worthy  "to  receive  power,  and  riches, 
and  wisdom,  and  strength,  and  glory,  and  bless- 
ing," of  whom  we  speak. 

Above  all,  preaching  the  cross  proves  to  the 
Gentiles  the  amazing  love  of  God  to  sinful  man. 
"God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  sent  his  only 


Preaching  Christ.  189 

begotten  son."  "He  that  spared  not  his  own  Son, 
but  deUvered  him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not 
with  him  also  give  us  all  things?"  "In  this  was 
manifested  the  love  of  God  toward  us,  because 
that  God  sent  his  only  begotten  Son  into  the 
world,  that  we  might  hve  through  him.  Herein 
is  love,  not  that  we  loved  God,  but  that  he  loved 
us,  and  sent  his  Son  to  be  the  propitiation  for  our 
sins."  This  is  the  strongest  appeal  that  can  be 
made  to  the  children  of  men.  If  men  at  Calvary 
resist  the  offer  of  divine  mercy,  there  is  no  further 
room  for  appeal.  The  picture  of  the  Kedeemer's 
sufferings  does  draw  the  nations,  and  the  preach- 
ing of  Christ  crucified  is  made  "the  power  of  God 
and  the  wisdom  of  God,"  to  the  salvation  of  the 
Gentiles. 


CHAPTEK    XIII. 

Jesus,  the  Model  Pkeacher  to  the  Heathen. 

SEVENTEEN  hundred  years  before  the  coming 
of  our  Lord,  his  ancestor,  Jacob,  said,  "  Unto 
him  shall  the  gathering  of  the  people  be."  The 
evangelists  say,  "And  Jesus  went  into  all  Galilee, 
teaching  in  their  synagogues,  and  preaching  the 
gospel  of  the  kingdom  .  .  .  and  his  fame 
went  throughout  all  Syria.  .  .  .  And  there 
followed  him  great  multitudes  of  people  from 
Galilee,  and  from  Decapolis  {i.  e.,  the  ten  cities), 
and  from  Jerusalem,  and  from  Judea,  and  from 
beyond  Jordan."  "And  they  came  to  him  from 
every  quarter."  And  why  came  they  ?  It  was  to 
hear  the  prophet  of  Nazareth  preach,  "and  all 
bare  him  mtness,  and  wondered  at  the  gracious 
words  which  proceeded  out  of  his  mouth."  His 
disciples  said  to  him,  "Thou  hast  the  words  of 
eternal  life."  Grace  was'  poured  into  his  hps.  As 
Jesus  taught  in  the  temple  a  band  of  officers  was 
despatched  by  the  Pharisees  and  the  chief  priests 
to  take  him.  They  stopped  on  the  borders  of  the 
vast   assembly,  and  heard  Jesus  cry,  his  clarion 

notes  ringing  throughout  the  sacred  portals,  "If 
190 


Jesus,  the  Model  Preacher.  191 

any  man  thirst  let  him  come  unto  me  and  drink." 
Directly  the  officers  returned  to  the  Sanhedrim 
sitting  in  their  council  of  state,  they  demanded, 
"Why  have  ye  not  brought  him?"  The  answer 
was,  "Never  man  spake  Hke  this  man." 

Never  did  orator  in  Athens  or  Eome,  London 
or  Washington,  equal  the  Man  of  Galilee  in  hold- 
ing spell-bound,  from  early  morn  till  dewy  eve,  the 
thousands  who  waited  on  his  ministry.  His  voice, 
so  clear,  so  majestic,  and  so  sweet,  could  be  heard 
throughout  the  vast  concourse,  high  above  the 
wind  in  the  trees  on  the  mountain-side,  or  the 
dashing  of  the  breakers  on  the  seashore ;  and  the 
wilderness  and  the  sohtary  place  rejoiced  because 
of  the  words  of  wisdom,  power,  truth,  and  love. 
The  eloquence  of  Jesus  is  a  theme  worthy  of  clas- 
sic hall  and  sacred  tabernacle,  and  demands  the 
special  attention  of  the  heralds  of  the  cross  in  dis- 
tant lands.  Judea  had  been  asleep  for  centuries 
amidst  the  splendors  of  the  temple  ritual,  the  doc- 
tors expounding  the  bare  letter  of  the  law — Oh,  so 
cold  and  cheerless! — much  as  the  Confucianists 
lecture  in  the  temples  on  morality,  when  suddenly 
a  great  teacher  arose,  and  awoke  the  slumbering 
people  of  God  as  he  unfolded  the  spiritual  life  of 
the  kingdom  of  righteousness ;  and  no  journey 
was  too  long,  or  road  too  rough,  that  their  ears 


192  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

miglit  once  hear  the  joyful  notes  of  salvation  from 
his  lips.  Before  Jesns  commanded  his  disciples, 
"  Go,  preach,"  he  set  before  them  the  perfect  mo- 
del of  missionary  preaching,  or  the  evangelization 
of  the  multitudes,  while  to  his  apostles  was  as- 
signed in  part  the  work  of  ministerial  preaching, 
or  building  up  the  church  in  faith  and  knowledge. 
The  life  of  our  Saviour  on  earth  was  essentially 
a  teaching  ministry.  He  wrought  great  miracles, 
but  it  is  a  matter  of  surprise  how  httle  time  these 
occupied.  In  "the  twinkling  of  an  eye"  the  divine 
power  would  flash  forth,  and  wonders  of  love  and 
mercy  would  be  accomplished.  Of  an  hour's  work 
it  is  recorded:  "And  at  even,  when  the  sun  did 
set,  they  brought  unto  him  all  that  were  diseased, 
and  them  that  were  possessed  with  devils.  And 
all  the  city  was  gathered  together  at  the  door. 
And  he  healed  many  that  were  sick  of  divers  dis- 
eases, and  cast  out  many  devils."  Probably  only 
a  Kmited  portion  of  the  three  years  was  taken  up 
exclusively  in  miracles ;  for,  as  he  healed  the  sick 
and  raised  the  dead,  he  taught  his  disciples,  and 
preached  to  the  multitudes.  He  instructed  his 
followers,  answered  questions,  engaged  in  disputa- 
tions, explained  doubts,  revealed  the  thoughts  of 
his  hearers,  taught  the  people  and  preached  as  he 
journeyed,  or  wherever  men   might  come,  in  the 


Jesus,  the  Model  Preacheb.  193 

synagogues,  in  the  wilderness,  on  the  mountains, 
and  beside  the  sea.  The  upper  classes  of  the 
Jews — the  high-priestly  famihes,  the  doctors  of 
the  law,  the  scribes,  Pharisees,  and  Sadducees — 
possessing  the  learning  of  the  sacred  books,  had 
by  degrees  become  the  aristocracy  of  the  nation ; 
but  when  our  Lord  appeared,  he  broke  down  this 
caste,  and  pronounced  it  one  of  the  proofs  of  his 
divine  mission,  that  "the  poor  have  the  gospel 
preached  to  them." 

How  suited  the  teachings  of  Jesus  to  the  minds 
of  heathen  audiences !  While  much  that  prophets 
and  apostles  wrote  is  too  deep  for  the  elementary 
instruction  of  an  idolatrous  people,  the  words  of 
Christ,  at  once  so  profound  and  so  simple ;  so 
easy  to  be  understood,  yet  with  such  far-reaching 
depths,  are  perfectly  adapted  to  a  heathen  congre- 
gation, so  that  expository  discourses  on  the  Gos- 
pels may  be  perfectly  understood  by  the  untutored 
pagan.  A  few  of  the  discourses  of  our  Lord,  as 
the  sermons  on  the  mount  and  at  the  last  supper, 
are  recorded,  but  generally  they  are  only  the  frag- 
ments of  his  sermons.  No  doubt  the  Master,  like 
all  missionaries  to  the  people  of  Asia,  often  re- 
peated the  great  truths  he  wished  to  impress  upon 
the  minds  of  men,  weaving  the  same  lessons  to- 
gether into  the  garments  of  salvation,  as  suited  the 

17 


194  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

various  times  and  circumstances.  It  seems  thus, 
tliat  a  harmony  of  the  Gospels,  except  in  an  ap- 
proximate degree,  is  an  impossibility. 

Wonderful  is  the  testimony  about  Christ :  "And 
without  a  parable  spake  he  not  unto  them."  "  Be- 
hold," says  the  Master,  as  he  drew  pictures  which 
for  nineteen  centuries  have  been  admired  by  all 
nations  and  peojDle.  He  awakened  thought  by 
his  suggestive  parables.  There  was  not  a  formal 
division  of  the  subject  under  a  succession  of 
heads,  but  a  series  of  stereoscopic  views,  by  the 
combination  of  which  we  have  a  complete  survey 
of  the  whole.  Taking  no  text,  he  found  his  text 
in  the  conditions  of  men — the  rich  man,  the  beg- 
gar, the  judge,  the  widow,  the  merchant,  the 
farmer — or  took  for  his  subject  nature  in  her  ever 
varying  aspects — the  fields  and  vineyards,  the 
trees  and  flowers,  the  birds  and  fish — or  selected 
his  topic  from  the  passing  events  of  his  ministry — 
the  young  man,  the  children,  the  blind,  the  lost. 

In  these  parables  the  Master  of  assemblies 
grasped  the  leading  truths  which  he  wished  to 
impress  upon  his  disciples.  What  an  array  of 
glorious  doctrines  in  the  thirteenth  chapter  of 
Matthew :  The  sower  and  the  seed,  and  his  varied 
success;  the  devil  with  his  tares,  and  his  utter 
ruin ;  the  mustard  seed  and  the  leaven,  to  prefig- 


Jesus,  the  Model  Peeachee.  195 

ure  the  growth  of  the   kingdom ;  the  hid  treasure 
and  the  pearls,  to  tell  how  precious  the  gospel  is; 
and  the  separation  of  the  fish,  as  a  type  of  the 
coming  judgment!     These  were  not  loosely  thrown 
together,  for  at  the  close  of  the  discourse  the  Mas- 
ter  said,  "Therefore,   every    scribe    which    is   in- 
structed unto  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  hke  unto 
a   man   that  is   an    householder,   which    bringeth 
forth  oiit  of  his  treasures  things  new  and  old."    In 
what  book  of  sermons  do  we  find  such  a  single 
logical  train  of  thought  as  in  the  three  parables  of 
the  lost — the  lost  sheep,  the  lost  money,  the  lost 
son;  the   earnestness    in    seeking,  the   longing  to 
find,  the   rejoicings   in  both   the  earthly  and  the 
heavenly  homes?     Or  take  the  discourse  on  the 
shepherd  and  the  sheep,  and  w^hat  a  multitude  of 
thoughts  the  preacher    groups    around   his   text! 
So  wondrous  are  his    words,  that  it  requires  pati- 
ent  study,  holy  meditation,   earnest   prayer,  and 
the  enlightening  power  of  the   Holy  Ghost  to  en- 
able one  to  appreciate  their  beauty  and  subhmity. 
The  teaching  of  Jesus  illustrates  the  progressive 
method  of  instruction.     He,  the  great  Fisher  of 
men,  as  anxious   to  catch  a  single  fish  as  a  great 
multitude,  sat  beside  Jacob's  well,  when  a  poor 
woman    ajDpeared  as  an  auditor.     He  could  have 
stated  at  once  that  he  was  the  hope  of  Israel ;  but, 


196  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

hinting  at  his  divine  power,  lie  .simply  asked  for  a 
cup  of  cold  water.  The  woman,  in  her  second  re- 
ply, began,  like  the  Chinese,  to  talk  about  her  an- 
cestors ;  but  the  Saviour  answered  by  preaching 
on  one  of  the  most  profound  doctrines  of  inspira- 
tion, the  water  of  hfe.  When  she,  like  the  friends 
to  whom  we  come,  asked  for  temporal  benefits,  he 
did  not  upbraid  her  for  her  stupidity,  but  dealt 
tenderly  with  her  weakness.  He  startled  her  ^ith 
the  conviction  of  sin,  revealing  her  character  in  all 
its  awful  deformity.  ''  Sir,  I  perceive  that  thou  art 
a  prophet,"  was  her  reply;  but  she  immediately 
turned  the  subject  on  sacred  mountains,  while 
Jesus  showed  her  that,  though  "salvation  was  of 
the  Jews,"  that  God,  who  is  a  Spirit,  seeketh  for 
true  worshippers  who  shall  worship  him  in  spirit 
and  in  truth.  Such  preaching  stirred  up  thoughts 
of  the  coming  of  Messias ;  and  when  the  Master 
said  unto  her,  "I  that  speak  unto  thee  am  he," 
she,  the  first  messenger  to  the  heathen,  went  her 
way,  and  said,  "Is  not  this  the  Christ?"  Thus 
was  our  Lord  the  model  practical  teacher  in  com- 
mencing a  most  spiritual  discourse  in  a  most  natu- 
ral way,  and  rising  from  physical  wants  to  the 
necessities  of  the  soul. 

A  marked  characteristic  of  the  ministry  of  the 
Son  of  man  was  that  "The  common  "people  heard 


Jesus,  the  Model  Peeacher.  197 

Mm  gladly."  Not  so  with  Confucius,  wliose  fol- 
loY/ers  were  the  literati.  To  preach  to  a  company 
of  intelligent  hearers,  accustomed  to  read  and  to 
think,  is  comparatively  an  easy  task,  but  to  reach 
the  multitude  a  speaker  must  be  both  perspicuous 
and  attractive.  Jesus  knew  how  to  touch  the 
springs  of  the  mind  and  heart.  Among  the  most 
precious  recorded  discourses  of  our  Lord  are  those 
he  delivered  at  the  tables  of  the  rich,  when  feasts 
were  specially  given  in  his  honor.  The  company 
rechning  on  their  couches  hung  on  the  hps  of 
him  who  gave  them  meat  to  eat  which  they  knew 
not  of.  His  methods  of  interrogation  were  very 
suggestive,  as  when  he  said  unto  the  man  who  was 
blind,  but  now  saw,  "  Dost  thou  believe  on  the  Son 
of  God  ? "  The  natural  reply  of  an  inquirer  was, 
*'  Who  is  he,  Lord,  that  I  might  beheve  on  him  ?  " 

The  Master  constantly  preached  doctrine.  He 
presented  to  his  disciples  a  glorious  array  of  the 
fundamental  doctrines  of  Scripture,  and  connected 
all  these  heavenly  truths  with  himself,  thus  making 
them  fresh  and  attractive.  Throughout  he  aj)pears 
as  the  Hving,  loving,  dying,  rising,  descending 
Christ.  His  teaching  is  most  impressive  in  that 
he  weaves  the  warp  of  doctrine  and  the  woof  of 
practice  into  the  garment  of  a  holy  Christian  life. 

The  pathos  of  Christ's  teaching  melted  the  hearts 


198  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

of  his  hearers.  He  sounded  the  key-note  of  his 
mission,  when  he  sat  on  the  Mount,  and  his  disci- 
ples came  unto  him,  and  his  hps  pronounced, 
*'  Blessed."  Wondrous  are  the  objects  of  these 
blessings  and  the  fruition  bestowed  on  each.  His 
themes  were,  for  the  most  part,  of  the  gentler  kind, 
and  appealed  to  the  tenderest  emotions  of  human 
nature.  It  had  been  foretold,  "He  shall  not  cry, 
nor  lift  up  nor  cause  his  voice  to  be  heard  in  the 
streets.  A  bruised  reed  shall  he  not  break,  and 
the  smoking  flax  shall  he  not  quench."  He  de- 
clared what  his  ministry  was  in  the  passage  he 
selected  in  the  pulpit  of  Nazareth:  "The  Spirit 
of  the  Lord  is  upon  me  because  he  hath  anointed 
me  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor ;  he  hath  sent 
me  to  heal  the  broken-hearted,  to  preach  deliver- 
ance to  the  captives,  and  recovery  of  sight  to  the 
blind,  to  set  at  liberty  them  that  are  bruised,  to 
preach  the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord."  The 
son  of  David  set  the  example  of  a  tender,  lo^dng 
style  of  preaching  which  proves  what  he  said,  "I 
am  meek  and  lowly  in  heart." 

He  set  before  his  people  the  Fatherhood  of  God. 
The  chosen  nation  had  known  the  God  of  Israel 
by  the  uncommunicable  name  of  Jehovah,  who 
"was  glorious  in  hoHness,  fearful  in  praises,  do- 
ing wonders."     They  delighted  to  reverence   his 


Jesus,  the  Model  Preacher.  199 

majesty,  and  stand  in  awe  before  liis  awful  throne. 
Christ  taught  "God  is  Love,"  and  spoke  to  them 
of  his  Father,  and  taught  his  disciples  to  pray, 
"  Our  Father."  It  was  a  mighty  step  in  the  reve- 
lation when  men  were  taught  the  filial  spirit  as 
they  approached  the  Most  High.  In  this  land, 
where  the  promise  of  long  life  to  those  who  honor 
their  parents  has  been  so  signally  fulfilled  to  the 
nation,  the  missionary  can  show  that  religion  is 
simply  filial  piety  extended  towards  the  great 
Father  of  us  all.  The  many  and  oft-repeated  ex- 
hortations of  their  sacred  books  may  illustrate  the 
words  of  Scripture,  "A  son  honoreth  a  father,  .  . 
if  I  then  be  a  father,  where  is  mine  honor?  "  They 
have  the  five  relations,  the  goverment,  the  filial, 
the  conjugal,  the  fraternal  and  the  friendly,  as  the 
five  fingers,  but  they  lack  the  religious  or  the  rela- 
tion between  God  and  man,  which,  as  the  palm 
of  the  hand,  is  the  centre  from  which  all  human 
relations  diverge.  May  the  Chinese  soon  learn 
of  Christ,  and  say,  "Now,  O  Lord,  thou  art  our 
father." 

Jesus  also  unfolded  the  Sinaic  code,  and  thun- 
dered Sinai's  anathemas  against  those  who  re- 
belled against  the  offers  of  mercy.  When,  in 
Matthew  xxiii.  23,  he  cried  repeatedly,  "Woe  unto 
you,  scribes  and   Pharisees,  hypocrites!"   he  de- 


200  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

nounced  in  fearful  terms  the  consequences  of  an 
outward  observance  of  the  forms  of  worship,  and 
at  the  same  time  a  hidden  opposition  to  the  spirit 
of  Christianity. 

In  his  preaching  he  insisted  on  his  credentials, 
that  he  came  from  the  Father,  and  was  sent  by  the 
Father.  "I  seek  not  mine  own  will,  but  the  will  of 
the  Father  which  hath  sent  me."  "He  that  re- 
ceiveth  me  receiveth  him  that  sent  me."  It  was 
the  lofty  claims  he  made  to  divine  honors  that 
awoke  the  bitter  opposition  which  led  at  last  to 
his  crucifixion. 

At  the  very  beginning  of  his  ministry,  he  de- 
clared, "The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand."  How 
startling  the  announcement !  They  mistook  it  for 
the  kingdom  of  Israel;  but  he  came  to  establish 
the  kingdom  of  heaven  on  this  earth,  just  as  he 
taught  men  to  pray,  "Thy  kingdom  come,"  and 
sent  out  his  disciples  to  establish  the  kingdom 
among  the  nations.  They  were  not  to  say,  "Who 
shall  ascend  into  heaven?"  for  he  declared,  "The 
kingdom  of  God  is  at  hand ;  repent  ye,  and  beheve 
the  gospel."  He  continued  the  message  of  his 
forerunner,  "the  voice  in  the  wilderness,"  and 
preached  "repentance  unto  God."  In  every  form 
of  expression  he  insisted  upon  faith  as  the  funda- 
mental doctrine  of  the  society  that  he  estabhshed : 


Jesus,  the  Model  Peeachee.  201 

**Have  faith  in  God."  "Ye  believe  in  God,  believe 
also  m  me."  Before  a  miracle  was  performed,  he 
required  a  living  faith  in  the  recipient  of  his  bless- 
ing. ''That  whosoever  beUeveth  on  him  should 
not  perish.  .  ,  .  He  that  believeth  on  him  is 
not  condemned ;  but  he  that  believeth  not  is  con- 
demned abeadj,  because  he  hath  not  beheved  in 
the  name  of  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God." 

There  is  no  point  on  which  Christianity  and 
Confucianism  are  more  divergent  than  on  the 
treatment  of  enemies,  and  there  is  no  place  where 
it  is  more  important  to  insist?  upon  the  doctrine  of 
forgiveness  than  in  China.  How  appropriate  the 
words  of  Jesus,  "Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been 
said.  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor,  and  hate  thine 
enemy;  but  I  say  unto  you,  Love  your  enemies, 
bless  them  that  curse  you,  do  good  to  them  that 
hate  you,  and  pray  for  them  which  despitefully 
use  you  and  persecute  you ;  that  ye  may  be  the 
children  of  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven." 

When  our  Master  called  his  disciples,  ordained 
them  to  be  with  him,  commissioned  them,  and  sent 
them  forth,  he  placed  before  them  in  distinct  terms 
how  they  must  endure  hardness  as  good  soldiers 
of  Jesus  Christ.  Missionaries  in  this  land,  in  view 
of  the  many  local  and  general  persecutions  which 
overtake  native  converts,  must  repeat  what  Jesus 


■202  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

said  to  those  about  to  bear  his  yoke:  *'And  ye 
shall  be  brought  before  governors  and  kings  for 
my  sake,  for  a  testimony  against  them  and  the 
Gentiles.  .  .  .  And  the  brother  shall  dehver 
Tip  the  brother  to  death,  and  the  father,  the  child. 
.  .  .  And  ye  shall  be  hated  of  all  men  for  my 
name's  sake."  It  is  not  an  easy  thing  for  a  man 
to  be  a  Christian  in  China.  Petty  troubles  from 
family  divisions,  from  refusing  to  join  in  the  wor- 
ship of  ancestors,  and  for  declining  to  contribute 
to  idol  processions  and  worship,  arise  on  every 
hand. 

The  messenger  of  salvation  stands  appalled  be- 
fore the  gigantic  array  of  idolatry  and  superstition. 
The  promise  of  Christ  comes  a  solace  to  his  heart, 
and  there  is  scarcely  a  text  more  appreciated  by 
the  native  Christian  than,  "Ye  shall  know  the 
truth,  and  the  truth  shall  make  you  free."  We 
fight  not  the  darkness,  we  turn  on  the  light.  "The 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,"  taught  to  believers,  sets 
them  free  from  the  chains  of  sin  and  Satan.  "God 
hath  from  the  beginning  chosen  them  to  salvation 
through  sanctification  of  the  Spirit  and  beHef  of 
the  truth."  They  obey  the  truth,  and  walk  in  the 
truth. 

There  is  no  class  to  whom  the  gospel  comes 
more   with  the  rainbow  of  promise  than  to  the 


Jesus,  the  Model  Preacher.  203 

women  of  China.  Did  Jesns  love  Mary  and  Mar- 
tha ?  Did  Mary  Magdalene,  and  Joanna,  the  wife 
of  Chnza,  Herod's  steward,  and  Susanna,  and 
many  others,  minister  nnto  him  of  their  sub- 
stance? Was  there  a  group  of  women  standing 
beside  the  cross,  witnessing  his  accursed  death? 
As  soon  as  the  holy  Sabbath  was  passed,  did  they 
repair  to  the  sepulchre?  And  what  rehgion  on 
earth,  save  Christianity,  says,  ''Suffer  httle  chil- 
dren to  come  unto  me,"  and  "Out  of  the  mouths 
of  babes  and  suckhngs  thou  hast  perfected  praise"? 
The  philosophers  of  the  Middle  Kingdom  treat 
of  political  economy,  ethics,  and  fihal  piety ;  our 
Lord  and  Master,  of  eternal  themes.  The  value 
of  the  soul  is  a  theme  he  treats  as  of  transcendent 
importance.  The  good  young  man,  the  rich  fool, 
and  Dives  being  in  Hades  in  torment,  illustrated 
the  folly  of  setting  the  affections  upon  the  things 
of  earth,  and  neglecting  the  soul.  He  sets  before 
this  class  the  problem  of  profit  and  loss,  and  then 
asks,  "And  what  shall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for 
his  soul?"  In  this  land,  by  the  doctrines  of  the 
divisibility  of  the  soul  and  its  frequent  transmigra- 
tions, men  lose  sight  of  its  importance,  and  let  the 
subject  lapse  into  utter  forgetfulness.  The  value 
of  the  soul,  and  its  future  of  happiness  or  woe,  is 
the  missionary's  great  theme. 


204  Pkeaching  in  Sinim. 

How  the  Chinese,  like  the  Jews,  love  to  "lay  Tip 
treasure  on  earth"!  How  their  robes  of  silk,  satin, 
and  fur  are  ruined  by  the  rainy  and  mouldy  sea- 
son! And  how  high  the  walls  must  be,  and  the 
gates  so  strongly  barred,  to  keep  out  the  thieves ! 
And  the  poverty!  poverty! !  As  the  millions 
scarcely  exist,  how  much  ''anxious  thought"  for 
the  bare  food  necessary  "to  keep  soul  and  body 
together"!  How  appropriate  to  troubled  hearts 
are  the  words,  "Therefore,  take  no  thought,  say- 
ing, What  shall  we  eat?  or,  "What  shall  we  drink? 
or,  "Wherewithal  shall  we  be  clothed?  (For  after 
all  these  things  do  the  Gentiles  seek);  for  your 
heavenly  Father  knoweth  ye  have  need  of  all 
these  things." 

The  most  impressive  feature  of  Chinese  civiliza- 
tion that  strikes  the  new  arrival  is  the  number 
of  burden-bearers.  Men  are  beasts  of  burden. 
Horses  are  not  used  on  the  well-watered  plains 
of  China,  because  the  food  must  be  garnered  to 
sustain  the  life  of  man.  They  may  hear  the  voice 
of  the  Son  of  man,  "  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  are 
weary  and  heavy-laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest." 
How  precious  the  invitations  of  Jesus !  How  the 
Chinaman,  in  this  land  of  feasts,  can  understand 
the  parables  of  the  wedding  feast  and  of  the  great 
supper ! 


Jesus,  the  Model  Preacher.  205 

Tlie  teacliings  of  Jesus  were  eminently  practical! 
He  did  not  give  men  the  theory  of  prayer,  but  sim- 
ply told  them,  "Ask,  and  ye  shall  receive."  He  did 
not  try  to  prove  what  he  affirmed,  but,  instead,  made 
a  personal  apphcation  of  the  truth  to  the  hearts  of 
the  objectors,  as  when  in  regard  to  works  of  mercy 
on  the  Sabbath  he  inquired,  "How  much  then  is  a 
man  better  than  a  sheep?"  In  China  the  Man- 
darins are  given  office  away  from  home,  in  a  dis- 
tant province,  just  as  kingdoms  were  distributed 
in  the  Eoman  empire.  How  forcible,  then,  are 
Christ's  oft-repeated  teachings  about  his  future 
coming:  "A  certain  nobleman  went  into  a  far 
country  to  receive  for  himself  a  kingdom,  and  to 
return."  Alas!  how  many  say  in  their  heart,  "My 
lord  delayeth  his  coming." 

The  above  is  but  a  faint  outline  of  the  way 
Jesus  taught,  a  few  shells  picked  up  from  the  shore 
of  the  gospel  ocean.  Jesus  is  our  pattern  and 
our  guide,  but  nowhere  more  so  than  in  preach- 
ing to  the  Gentiles.  Let  the  missionary  of  the 
cross  catch  the  spirit  of  Christ,  emulate  his  exam- 
ple, explain  his  words,  and  strive  to  preach  as  the 
Master  preached.  The  extraordinary  gift  of  mira- 
cles does  not  pertain  to  this  dispensation,  but  the 
ordinary  gift  of  preaching  is  the  glory  of  the  pre- 
sent age. 

18 


206  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

In  preaching  the  mind  and  words  of  Jesiis  we 
have  an  entirely  new  field  in  China.  There  is  lit- 
tle in  Confucianism  or  Buddhism  to  furnish  texts 
or  subjects  or  illustrations  for  public  speaking,  but 
the  Bible  afibrds  an  illimitable  supply.  There  is  a 
glory  about  the  pulpit  with  its  thousands  and  tens 
of  thousands  of  mighty  orators,  who  have  striven 
to  hold  up  before  the  people  the  pictures  of  religion 
Jesus  bequeathed  to  mankind.  Following  in  his 
footsteps  there  is  an  exceeding  great  army  who 
stand  upon  Mount  Zion,  and  bring  the  message  of 
great  joy  to  all  people.  We  are  to  seek  in  our 
preaching  that  there  may  be  wider,  fuller,  and 
richer  provision ;  that  in  the  language  of  the  Good 
Shepherd  the  sheep  "  shall  go  in  and  out  and  find 
pasture."  "  Follow  me,"  says  Jesus  as  he  preached 
the  gospel  of  the  kingdom,  and  the  future  of  the 
pulpit  in  Sinim  depends  on  how  closely  the  disci- 
ples imitate  their  great  Exemplar. 


CHAPTEE  XIV. 

Paul,  the  Preacher. 

THE  missionary  in  heathen  lands  constantly 
studies  the  life  and  character  of  the  great 
apostle  to  the  Gentiles,  who  was  the  first  ex- 
ponent of  evangehstic  theology.  The  Divinity 
Hall  which  he  attended  was  the  same  as  that 
where  Moses  received  his  long  training,  the 
sandy  plain  of  Arabia.  The  "eleven"  listened 
to  the  Master  while  he  spake  to  them  on  earth; 
Paul,  to  the  voice  from  the  excellent  glory.  His 
three  years'  curriculum  left  an  indelible  impres- 
sion upon  his  mind.  Writes  he :  "I  will  come  to 
visions  and  revelations  of  the  Lord.  I  knew  a 
man  in  Christ  above  fourteen  years  ago.  .  .  How 
that  he  was  caught  up  into  Paradise  and  heard 
unspeakable  words,  which  it  is  not  lawful  for 
a  man  to  utter."  Things  of  earth  faded  from 
view  after  he  beheld  the  great  multitude,  which 
no  man  could  number,  of  all  nations,  and  kin- 
dreds, and  people,  and  tongues,  which  stood 
before  the  throne  and  before  the  Lamb.  No  won- 
der that  ever  afterwards  he  was  "willing  rather 
to  be  absent  from  the  body  and  to  be  present  with 

207 


'208  Pbeaching  in  Sinim. 

the  Lord."  He  could  exclaim,  "For  me  to  live  is 
Christ."  ''I  am  crucified  Tvith  Christ;  neverthe- 
less I  live ;  yet  not  I  but  Christ  liveth  in  me :  and 
the  life  which  I  now  hve  in  the  flesh  I  live  by 
the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  loved  me  and 
gave  himself  for  me." 

Paul  did  not,  however,  sit  and_dream  of  heaven, 
his  aim  was  that  he  might  finish  his  course  with 
joy,  and  the  ministry  which  he  had  received  of 
the  Lord  Jesus.  He  asserts  and  repeats  his  asser- 
tion, "  I  am  ordained  a  preacher,  and  an  apostle, 
a  teacher  of  the  Gentiles."  ''That  I  should  be 
the  minister  of  Jesus  Christ  to  the  Gentiles."  The 
Lord  said,  "He  is  a  chosen  vessel  unto  me,  to 
bear  my  name  before  the  Gentiles."  His  motto 
was,  "Inasmuch  as  I  am  the  apostle  to  the  Gen- 
tiles, I  magnify  my  office,  and  in  his  humility  he 
could  exclaim,  "Unto  me,  who  am  less  than  the 
least  of  all  saints,  is  this  grace  given,  that  I  should 
preach  amongst  the  Gentiles  the  unsearchable 
riches  of  Christ." 

No  mere  man  has  ever  lived  who  made  such  a 
sensation  by  preaching  as  Paul  did.  His  first 
question:  Is  Jehovah  "the  God  of  the  Jews  only? 
Is  he  not  also  of  the  Gentiles  ?  Yes,  of  the  Gen- 
tiles also,"  astonished  the  nations,  for  the  Komains 
spoke  to  the  Jews  of  "  Yoiir  Jehovah,"  just  as  the 


Paul,  the  Pkeachek.  209 

Chinese  do  to  us  of  ^^Yoiir  Jesus."  The  gifted 
preacher  went  from  land  to  land,  and  all  heard 
him  speak  in  their  own  tongues  the  wonderful 
works  of  God.  The  philosophers  of  Greece  in- 
vited him  to  the  Areopagus  to  speak  before 
assembled  Athens,  for  said  they,  "Thou  bringest 
certain  strange  things  to  our  ears."  Demetrius 
declared,  *'  Moreover  ye  see  and  hear,  that  not 
alone  at  Ephesus,  but  almost  throughout  all  Asia, 
this  Paul  hath  persuaded  and  turned  away  much 
people,  saying  that  they  be  no  gods  which  are 
made  with  hands."  At  Thessalonica  the  unbe- 
lieving Jews  drew  Paul's  host  before  the  rulers, 
crying,  *' These  that  have  turned  the  world  upside 
down  have  come  hither  also." 

Among  the  gifts  bestowed  so  abundantly  upon 
him  was  that  of  the  eloquent  tongue.  We  have 
only  epitomes  of  his  great  discourses  left  us,  but 
they  have  served  as  models  for  pulpit  orators  since 
the  Christian  era.  The  grace  with  which  he  intro- 
duced himself  to  the  audience,  the  adaptabihty  of 
his  speech,  the  hanging  his  theme  on  some  fehcit- 
ous  circumstance,  the  pointed  use  of  appropriate 
quotations,  his  masterly  tact  in  presenting  his 
arguments,  the  logic  of  his  reasoning,  the  cogency 
of  his  appeals,  the  soul-earnestness  of  his  manner, 
and,  more  than  all,  the  transcendent  claims  of  the 


210  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

truths  lie  proclaimed,  placed  Mm  in  the  rank  above 
Cicero  and  Demosthenes.  With  his  companion, 
Barnabas,  he  came  to  Iconium,  and  went  into  the 
synagogue,  and  they  "so  spake  that  a  great  multi- 
tude, both  of  the  Jews  and  also  of  the  Greeks,  be- 
heved."  The  historian  uses  the  simple  description 
"so  spake."  A  great  ingathering  was  the  re- 
sult. 

Paul  was  an  itinerant,  and,  with  Jerusalem  as  a 
focus,  he  made  his  three  great  missionary  jour- 
neys. He  loved  the  Holy  City,  and,  whether  to 
attend  the  feast,  or  to  bear  alms  to  the  believing 
poor,  thither  he  was  bound  in  the  Spirit.  From 
city  to  city,  and  from  country  to  country,  in 
journeys  by  land  and  by  sea,  he  went,  pro- 
claiming salvation;  sometimes  remaining  three 
weeks;  again,  three  months;  perhaps  a  year  and 
a  half,  or  at  other  places,  two  or  three  years.  It 
was  by  these  labors,  scattered  over  Europe  and 
Asia  Minor,  that  he  was  enabled  to  plant  the  gos- 
pel in  so  many  places.  "Thrice  I  suffered  ship- 
wreck, a  night  and  a  day  I  have  been  in  the  deep ; 
in  journeyings  often,  in  perils  of  waters,  in  perils 
of  robbers,  in  perils  by  mine  own  countrymen,  in 
perils  by  the  heathen,  in  perils  in  the  city,  in  perils 
in  the  wilderness,  in  perils  in  the  sea,  in  perils 
among  false  brethren;  in  weariness  and  painful- 


Paul,  the  Preacher.  211 

ness,  in  watchings  often,  in  hunger  and  thirst,  in 
fastings  often,  in  cold  and  nakedness." 

At  Corinth,  rather  than  suffer  the  reproach  of 
"eating  the  church's  rice"  by  remaining  in  a 
wealthy  city  instead  of  preaching  to  the  poor  in 
the  country,  he  abode  with  Priscilla  and  Aquila, 
and  wrought,  "because  he  was  of  the  same  craft." 
He  could  point  to  his  broad  and  hard  hands, 
which  had  toiled  at  the  coarse  tent-cloth,  and  say 
to  the  elders,  "Yea,  ye  yourselves  know  that  these 
hands  have  ministered  unto  my  necessities,  and  to 
them  that  were  with  me."  With  what  a  touch  of 
sarcasm  he  could  write,  "For  what  is  it  wherein 
ye  were  inferior  to  other  churches,  except  it  be 
that  I  myself  was  not  burdensome  to  you?  For- 
give me  this  im^ong'^ 

The  apostle  was  his  own  forerunner.  The  dis- 
ciples were  gathered  at  Jerusalem,  to  the  number 
of  many  thousands,  and  probably  of  tens  of  thou- 
sands, and  spending  their  time  in  receiving  the 
gifts  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  enjoying  Christian 
fellowship  and  community  of  goods,  when  sud- 
denly Saul  of  Tarsus  made  great  havoc  among 
them,  haling  men  and  women,  and  committing 
them  to  prison;  and  thus  scattered  abroad,  they 
dwelt  in  ail  the  cities  of  the  Eoman  Empire.  In 
after  years  they,  forgetting  the  things  that  were 


212  Pkeaching  in  Sinim. 

passed,  were  ready  to  welcome  the  former  blas- 
phemer and  persecutor,  and  opened  their  houses 
for  preaching.  During  the  centuries  preceding  the 
Christian  era,  the  Jews,  afraid  to  dwell  in  Pales- 
tine, and  being,  like  the  Chinese,  men  of  commer- 
cial enterprise,  spread  themselves  throughout  the 
adjacent  countries,  and  by  their  wealth  command- 
ed great  influence.  They  remembered  the  God  of 
Abraham,  and  built  houses  of  worship.  In  these 
Paul  was  privileged  to  hold  divine  service,  and  to 
reason  with  those  who  objected  to  his  teachings. 
The  missionaries  of  the  present  day  have  no  such 
advantages. 

Often  he  stood  face  to  face  with  heathenism, 
with  no  pious  Jew  or  humble  Christian  to  aid  him 
in  his  work.  What  a  picture  he  gives  of  the  con- 
dition and  state  of  the  Gentile  world!  It  was  a 
faithful  description  of  the  city  sitting  upon  seven 
hills,  and  of  the  nations  dwelling  on  the  plains,  a 
portrait  which  for  accuracy  in  detail  and  faithful- 
ness in  delineation  has  never  been  equaled ;  so 
he  knew  what  was  before  him.  When  he  con- 
cludes, ' '  There  is  none  righteous,  no,  not  one ; 
there  is  none  that  understandeth,  there  is  none 
that  seeketh  after  God.  They  are  all  gone  out  of 
the  way,  they  are  together  become  unprofitable  ; 
there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one,"  it  is 


Paul,  the  Preacher.  213 

to  pave  the  way  for  preacliing  justification  by  faith 
in  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  impartation 
of  his  righteousness. 

The  signs  and  wonders  which  Paul  wrought 
made  a  powerful  impression  upon  the  apostolic 
church.  At  Lystra,  the  cripple,  "impotent  in  his 
feet,"  but  potent  in  his  faith,  hobbled  to  preach- 
ing; and  the  man  of  God  shouted,  "Stand  upright 
upon  thy  feet,"  and  so  surprised  was  the  crowd, 
that  they  "lifted  up  their  voices,  saying.  The  gods 
are  come  down  to  us  in  the  Hkeness  of  men."  The 
news  spread  rapidly,  and  the  populace  flocked  to 
the  campus.  The  preacher,  seeing  his  audience 
ra23idly  increasing,  and  listening  with  awe  and 
reverence,  warmed  in  his  theme,  and  his  ringing 
voice  was  heard  by  the  great  assembly,  when,  lo ! 
a  company  of  priests,  with  sacrificial  oxen  and 
floral  crowns,  appeared.  Worship  was  to  be  of- 
fered to  these  divine  beings.  Nothing  could  re- 
strain the  assembly  till,  with  garments  rent  in 
twain,  they  rushed  amidst  the  worshippers  and 
cried,  "Sirs,  why  do  ye  these  things?  We  also 
are  men  of  Hke  passions  with  you,  and  preach 
unto  you  that  ye  should  turn  from  these  vanities 
unto  the  living  God."  He  then  delivered  a  brief 
discourse  on  natural  theology,  showing  that  an 
abundant  harvest  is  a  proof  of  the  existence  of 


214  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

God.  "He  left  not  himself  without  witness,  in 
that  he  did  good,  and  gave  ns  rain  from  heaven, 
and  fruitful  seasons,  filHng  our  hearts  with  food 
and  gladness." 

The  apostle  was  not  an  independent  evangelist, 
going  when  and  where  he  chose,  but  his  labors 
were  directed  by  a  power  above!  He  mshed  to 
preach  in  Asia;  he  was  "forbidden  of  the  Holy 
Ghost."  He  then  "assayed  to  go  into  Bythinia, 
but  the  Spirit  suffered  him  not."  There  was  work 
for  him  at  another  place,  but  he  knew  not  where. 
When  he  came  to  Troy  it  was  revealed  to  him  in 
a  night  vision.  On  the  opposite  shore  there  stood 
a  man  "and  prayed  him,  saying.  Come  over  into 
Macedonia  and  help  us."  TVTiat  a  series  of  events 
followed  this  special  call :  The  pious  women  by 
the  river-side,  the  open  heart  of  Lydia,  the  little 
soothsayer,  the  arrest,  the  scourging,  the  songs  in 
the  night,  the  conversion  of  the  jailer,  and  the  ser- 
mon,— perhaps  the  simplest  exposition  of  the  plan 
of  salvation  to  be  found  in  the  Bible. 

From  Philippi  he  went  to  Thessalonica.  This 
is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  passages  in  the  life 
of  Paul.  The  epistle  to  these  Christians  tells  of 
the  effect  of  his  preaching :  The  number  of  con- 
verts, the  power  of  the  gospel,  the  full  assurance 
of  the  believers,  the  reception  of  the  message  as 


Paul,  the  Preacher.  215 

ihe  word  of  God,  tlieir  becoming  followers  of  the 
apostle,  tlieir  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  fame  of 
their  faith,  the  turning  from  dumb  idols,  and  the 
constant  expectation  of  the  Lord's  coming ;  and  all 
this  from  three  weeks'  missionary  labor ! 

Driven  by  persecution,  he  arrived  at  Athens, 
and  there  his  spirit  waxed  hot  against  the  super- 
abounding  idolatries.  His  preaching  was  unre- 
mitting, both  in  the  churches  and  on  the  streets, 
and  his  labors  reached  their  acme  when  he  stood 
on  Mars'  Hill  and  preached  the  grandest  mission- 
ary sermon,  perhaps,  ever  delivered.  It  is  one  of 
the  most  famihar  passages  to  the  church,  and  one 
which  has  proved  an  inspiration  to  thousands  of 
faithful  ministers  during  all  these  centuries.  These 
words  mil  continue  to  ring  throughout  the  nations 
till  "the  kingdoms  of  this  world  become  the  king- 
doms of  the  Lord  and  of  his  Christ." 

The  Master  to  this  servant  verified  his  promise, 
"Lo!  I  am  with  you  alway."  At  the  great  heathen 
city  of  Corinth  the  work  seemed  appalling  in  its 
magnitude.  "Then  spake  the  Lord  to  Paul  in  the 
night  by  a  vision.  Be  not  afraid,  but  speak,  and 
hold  not  thy  peace:  for  I  am  with  thee,  and  no 
man  shall  set  on  thee  to  hurt  thee:  for  I  have 
much  people  in  this  city."  This  assurance  has 
cheered  many  a  weary  toiler. 


216  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

When  his  labors  at  Corinth  were  ended  we  have 
a  proof  at  Ephesus  how  "mightily  grew  the  word 
of  God  and  prevailed."  This  city,  hke  Soochow, 
was  filled  with  hordes  of  astrologers,  geomancers, 
magicians,  diviners,  soothsayers,  exorcists,  and  all 
that  class  who  plied  their  lucrative  avocations  in 
the  temples,  markets  and  pubhc  places.  Paul 
preached  and  "wrought  special  miracles,"  "and 
fear  fell  on  them  all,  and  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  was  magnified.  .  .  .  Many  of  them  also 
which  used  curious  arts  brought  their  books 
together,  and  burned  them  before  all  men:  and 
they  counted  the  price  of  them,  and  found  it 
fifty  thousand  pieces  of  silver." 

At  Jerusalem,  arrested  on  a  false  charge,  he 
was  brought  before  the  council.  "The  night  fol- 
lowing the  Lord  stood  by  him,  and  said.  Be  of 
good  cheer,  Paul ;  for  as  thou  hast  testified  of  me 
in  Jerusalem,  so  must  thou  bear  witness  also  at 
Kome."  Before  this,  at  his  conversion,  it  was  said, 
"He  is  a  chosen  vessel  unto  me,  to  bear  my  name 
before  the  Gentiles  and  kings."  He  stood  before 
Felix.  He  touched  not  on  minor  points  of  gov- 
ernmental policy  or  educational  interests,  but 
"reasoned  of  righteousness,  temperance  and  judg- 
ment to  come."  The  governor  trembled.  After 
two  long  years  of  imprisonment,  Festus  succeeded 


Paul,  the  Preacher.  217 

FeKx,  and  when  King  Agrippa  came  to  Caesarea 
Paul  was  brouglit  before  him.  It  was  a  majestic 
assembly,  for  the  king  came  "with  great  pomp  and 
entered  into  the  place  of  hearing,  with  the  chief 
captains  and  principal  men  of  the  city."  After  a 
most  graceful  exordium,  "I  think  myself  happy, 
King  Agrippa,  because  I  shall  answer  for  myself 
this  day  before  thee,"  he  based  his  defence  on  the 
facts  of  his  conversion,  his  call  to  preach  and 
ihe  resurrection  of  our  Lord.  What  an  example 
to  those  who  witness  for  Christ  before  rulers ! 
Agrippa  cried  out,  "Almost  thou  persuadest  me 
to  be  a  Christian."  The  aged  prisoner,  raising 
aloft  his  arms,  bound  with  the  felon's  chain,  ex- 
claimed, "I  would  to  God,  that  not  only  thou,  but 
also  all  that  hear  me  this  day,  were  both  almost, 
and  altogether  such  as  I  am,  except  these  bonds." 
No  wonder  this  touching  spectacle  moved  the  king 
and  the  governor,  and  their  judgment  was,  that 
were  it  not  for  his  appeal  he  might  be  set  at 
hberty. 

His  latter  years,  while  under  a  guard  of  soldiers, 
were  busily  employed  in  speaking  to  the  numbers 
who  came  to  ^dsit  him  and  in  writing  letters,  which 
are  the  means  of  the  conversion  of  thousands  and 
tens  of  thousands  of  the  Gentiles.  "Paul,  the 
prisoner  of  the  Lord,"  still  preaches  in  three  hun- 
19 


218  PREAiOHING  IN  SiNIM. 

dred  tongues.  The  cords  were  drawn  tighter  and 
tighter  around  him,  and  from  the  cold  vault  of 
the  Mamertine  dungeon  he  could  write  in  hnes  of 
light,  ''I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time 
of  my  departure  is  at  hand.  I  have  fought  a  good 
fight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the 
faith ;  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown 
of  righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the  righteous 
judge,  shall  give  me  at  that  day." 


CHAPTER    XY. 

The  Work  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

WHEN  the  minister  of  the  gospel  goes  to  pagan 
lands  he  tries  by  research  and  inquiry  to  find 
out  what  basis  there  is  for  rehgious  instruction,  and 
what  latent  truths  there  are  in  the  heathen  mind 
upon  which  he  may  build  his  argument.  In  teach- 
ing theology  there  is  the  vast  structure  of  the  three 
rehgions  supplying  thought  and  language  for 
teaching  the  true  by  the  contrast  with  idolatry 
and  superstition.  When,  however,  the  preacher 
begins  to  set  forth  the  character  of  the  third  per- 
son of  the  Trinity  there  is  absolutely  nothing  in 
natural  religion  to  indicate  his  existence  and 
work.     It  is  purely  a  doctrine  of  revelation. 

The  importance  to  the  Gentiles  of  the  gift  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  cannot  be  overrated.  The  gift  of 
tongues  by  which  men  began  to  speak  in  foreign 
languages  was  the  first  public  manifestation  of  his 
presence  in  the  church.  The  ordination  at  An- 
tioch  of  the  two  first  evangelists  to  the  heathen 
was  at  the  instance  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  who  said, 
"Separate  me  Barnabas  and  Saul  for  the  work 
whereunto  I  have  called  them."     "  So  they,  being 

219 


220  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

sent  forth  bj  the  Holy  Ghost,  departed."  Great 
ingatherings  into  the  church  followed  the  outpour- 
ing of  the  Spirit.  While  Peter  was  jDreaching, 
"the  Holy  Ghost  fell  on  all  them  which  heard 
the  word.  And  they  of  the  circumcision  which 
believed  were  astonished  .  .  .  because  that  on 
the  Gentiles  also  was  poured  out  the  gift  of  the 
Holy  Ghost."  The  Book  of  Acts  is  not  so  much 
the  acts  of  the  apostles  as  the  acts  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  which  he  wrought  through  their  instru- 
mentaUty.  As  the  great  work  of  missions  began 
with  the  procession  of  the  Spirit  and  is  continued 
by  his  presence  and  power,  the  person,  character 
and  glory  of  the  Holy  Ghost  must  be  distinctly  set 
before  the  church  in  a  heathen  land. 

The  Spirit  is  not  to  be  preached  simply  as  an 
influence  or  a  breath,  but  as  a  distinct  person,  who 
is  a  sovereign,  to  whom  prayer  is  to  be  offered  and 
from  whom  blessings  are  to  descend.  His  essen- 
tial divinity  must  be  insisted  upon  in  distinct  terms, 
and  he  be  acknowledged  as  the  third  person  in  the 
adorable  Trinity,  co-equal  with  the  Father  and 
with  the  Son.  The  awful  guards  that  have  been 
placed  around  his  sacred  person  and  majesty  may 
well  make  the  sons  of  men  fear  to  offend  against 
him:  "All  manner  of  sin  and  blasphemy  shall  be 
forgiven  unto  men  ;  but  the  blasphemy  against  the 


The  Work  of  the  Holy  Spibit.  221 

Holy  Ghost  shall  not  be  forgiven  unto  men.  And 
whosoever  speaketh  a  word  against  the  Son  of 
man,  it  shall  be  forgiven  him;  but  whosoever 
speaketh  against  the  Holy  Ghost,  it  shall  not  be 
forgiven  him,  neither  in  this  world,  neither  in  the 
world  to  come."  Men  are  to  pray  "to  be  filled 
with  the  Holy  Ghost,"  but  they  are  to  realize  the 
terrible  nature  of  this  petition,  for  he  is  the  Spirit 
of  judgment,  and  there  is,  as  it  were,  a  permanent 
judgment-day  set  up  in  the  soul  of  man. 

The  Saviour  promised  that  the  Spirit  should 
convince  the  world  of  sin.  The  heathen  seek  not 
God,  because  they  do  not  feel  that  they  are  guilty 
at  his  bar,  rebels  who  refuse  his  authority,  and 
neglect  to  worship  him  who  is  their  Lord  and  God. 
When  the  Spirit  is  poured  out,  then  the  heathen, 
who  now  "sit  at  ease,"  shall  look  upon  him  "whom 
they  have  pierced,  and  they  shall  mourn  for  him, 
as  one  mourneth  for  his  only  son."  Then  will  they 
come  to  the  "fountain  opened  to  the  house  of  Da- 
vid and  to  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  for  sin  and 
for  uncleanness,"  just  as,  on  the  day  of  Pentecost, 
the  great  congregation  "  were  pricked  in  their  heart." 

He  is  to  convince  the  world  of  righteousness :  of 
the  want  of  original  righteousness,  the  vanity  of 
human  righteousness,  and  the  inability  of  those 
"who,  being  ignorant  of  God's  righteousness,"  go 


222  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

"about  to  establish  their  own  righteousness."  It 
is  only  the  Holy  Spirit  which  can  lead  a  dying 
heathen  to  behold  the  beauty  of  the  seamless  robe 
of  Christ's  righteousness,  the  "wedding  garment," 
in  which  arrayed  he  may  be  a  welcome  guest  at 
the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb. 

The  Spirit  is  to  convince  the  world  of  judgment, 
and  make  men  know  that  "  God  shall  bring  every 
work  into  judgment,  with  every  secret  thing,  whe- 
ther it  be  good,  or  whether  it  be  evil."  Natural 
rehgion  gives  many  intimations  of  coming  judg- 
ment, but  these  are  written  simply  on  the  stone 
tablets  of  the  temples,  and  are  read  "in  the  letter," 
without  the  thought  of  a  personal  judgment.  The 
Spirit  makes  the  fearful  realities  of  the  great  day 
of  final  accounts  to  pass  before  the  view  of  those 
who  are  hastening  to  this  great  tribunal. 

The  Holy  Spirit  will  lead  men  to  true  repent- 
ance. The  language  of  China  is  rich  in  its  terms 
for  repentance,  and  a  volley  of  synonyms  can  be 
poured  into  the  ears  of  an  audience ;  yet  they  pro- 
duce no  effect,  save  the  general  admission  that 
these  things  ought  to  be  so.  There  is  no  topic 
where  illustration  is  so  easy,  and  which  may  be 
enforced  with  more  power ;  yet,  unless  the  Holy 
Spirit  cements  the  word,  the  gospel  architect  la- 
boreth  but  in  vain. 


The  Work  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  223^ 

The  great  hope  of  the  Gentiles  is  in  the  regen- 
erating power  of  the  Spirit.  The  philosophers  of 
China  deal  boldlj  with  human  nature,  and  their 
systems  of  ethics  are  studied  in  every  school  in 
the  land.  The  "Three-character  Classic,"  the  first 
primer  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  boy,  begins, 
"Man's  nature  is  originally  good."  Mencius 
speaks  very  beautifully  of  the  "  child's  heart."  In 
his  discussions  about  man's  nature,  while  acknow- 
ledging the  existence  of  evil,  he  declares  that  men 
are  naturally  inclined  to  good.  The  people  con- 
stantly talk  of  "  the  heart,"  and  purity  of  motive 
is  spoken  of  as  "Buddha's  heart."  The  essential 
goodness  of  human  nature  is  a  tenet  in  Chinese 
philosophy  to  which  the  high  and  the  low,  the 
learned  and  the  unlearned,  tenaciously  cling.  Men 
may  preach  against  it  as  they  will,  they  make  no 
impression  till  the  Spiiit  descends,  and  seals  the 
truth  on  the  conscience. 

The  Chinese  need  conversion.  How  touching  the 
scene  when  "Jesus  called  a  httle  child  unto  him, 
and  set  him  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  said.  Verily 
I  say  unto  you.  Except  ye  be  converted,  and  be- 
come as  little  children,  ye  shall  not  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  heaven."  There  is  a  glorious  promise, 
"  Then  will  I  sprinkle  clean  water  upon  you,  and 
ye   shall  be   clean:  from   all   your  filthiness  and 


224  Peeaching  in  Sinim. 

from  all  your  idols  will  I  cleanse  you.  A  new 
heart  also  will  I  give  you,  and  a  new  spirit  will  I 
put  within  you :  and  I  will  take  the  stony  heart 
out  of  your  flesh,  and  I  will  give  you  an  heart  of 
flesh.  And  I  will  put  my  Spirit  within  you."  It 
is  for  them  to  know  in  their  personal  experience, 
"If  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature: 
old  things  are  passed  away;  behold,  aU  things  are 
become  new."  The  necessity  of  the  new  birth 
must  be  pressed  upon  them.  "Verily,  verily  I  say 
unto  thee,  Except  a  man  be  born  of  water  and  of 
the  Spirit,  he  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
God.  .  .  .  Marvel  not  that  I  say  unto  thee,  Ye 
must  be  born  again."  We  rejoice  in  this  dispensa- 
tion of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  that  he  can  pro- 
duce this  glorious  change  in  the  hearts  of  a  mighty 
people.  It  is  altogether  beyond  the  resources 
of  man,  and  is  an  act  of  sovereign,  almighty 
power. 

The  messenger  of  salvation  goes  not  forth  in  his 
own  strength,  for  Jesus  commanded  his  disciples, 
"Tarry  ye  in  the  city  of  Jerusalem  until  ye  be  en- 
dued with  power  from  on  high,"  and  his  last  re- 
corded words  were,  "Ye  shall  receive  power,  after 
that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  come  upon  you."  Many 
centuries  before,  the  angel  said  to  Jacob,  "As  a 
prince  hast  thou  power  with  God  and  T\dth  man." 


The  Work  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  225 

The  promise,  not  of  temporal,  but  of  spiritual, 
power  to  those  who  should  be  witnesses  for  Christ 
unto  the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth  is  a  wonder- 
ful factor  in  the  evangeHzation  of  the  nations. 
The  words  of  the  Master  are  true,  for  the  Holy 
Ghost  did  come,  and  is  now  abiding  with  the 
church;  and  the  minister  must  see  to  it  that  his 
own  heart  is  prepared  as  an  inn  for  the  reception 
of  the  heavenly  guest.  Though  the  extraordinary 
gifts  of  miracles  and  tongues  are  not  now  given  to 
the  church,  yet  the  ordinary  and  permanent  gifts 
abound,  and  remain  as  its  legacy.  Among  these 
may  be  mentioned  persuasive  eloquence,  or  the 
power  of  attracting  men  to  the  cross  by  the  skil- 
ful use  of  reasoning,  rhetoric,  and  elocution.  There 
is  a  mighty  power  in  the  pulpit,  and  when  men 
speak  with  the  tongues  of  men  and  of  angels,  and 
at  the  same  time  have  a  burning  desu'e  to  save 
souls,  the  Spirit  of  truth  will  guide  the  hearers  to 
embrace  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it.  Another  gift 
of  the  Spirit  is  the  power  of  endurance  amidst  dis- 
couragements and  difficulties,  trials  and  perplexi- 
ties. It  is  the  ''long  patience"  of  which  James 
speaks,  the  ''perseverance  of  the  saints."  Another 
power  is  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  joy  gives 
vigor  and  elasticity  to  the  laborer.  It  was  said  of 
the  Master,  "'\^^lo,  for  the  joy  that  was  set  before 


226  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

him,  endured  the  cross."  Power  in  prayer  is  a 
gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  "The  effectual  fervent 
prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much," — even 
of  men  "subject  to  like  passions  as  we  are."  The 
power  of  "rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth"  is  a 
special  gift  to  those  who  "speak  as  the  oracles  of 
God." 

The  question  comes,  How  then  is  this  power 
to  be  obtained?  Sometimes  great  gifts  are 
bestowed  suddenly  upon  the  minister  in  holy 
things,  but,  as  a  general  rule,  the  good  soldier 
of  Christ  obtains  his  strength  gradually  by  the 
use  of  the  means  given  him.  When  Israel  took 
possession  of  the  promised  land  the  heathen  na- 
tions were  not  conquered  in  one  decisive  battle, 
they  were  put  out  "httle  by  little"  before  the 
chosen  people.  It  is  thus  "little  by  little"  the 
promised  power  is  obtained.  The  law  of  nature 
and  grace  here  holds  good.  Just  as  the  athlete 
obtains  physical  power  by  long  and  tedious  prepa- 
ration, so  also  the  ripe  fruits  of  the  Christian  life  do 
not  come  to  maturity  in  a  day,  but  through  a  series 
of  years,  under  the  disciphning  hand  of  divine 
Providence.  We  are  to  increase  in  power  as  well 
as  to  grow  in  grace.  To  be  "wise  unto  salvation" 
in  understanding  the  Scriptures  is  power;  to  have 
a  tender  compassion  for  dying  men  and  an  earnest 


The  Work  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  227 

desire  to  win  souls  is  power ;  to  be  diligent  in  the 
sacred  bnsinesss  of  preaching  the  gospel  is  a 
power  in  con\incing  men  of  the  truth  of  the  mes- 
sage; and  to  pray  without  ceasing  suppHes  one 
with  a  full  suit  of  armor  from  the  upper  chamber 
in  Jerusalem.  The  Holy  Spirit  takes  the  natural 
gifts,  refines  and  developes  them,  and  by  his 
quickening  influence  makes  these  to  be  a  power 
in  the  church.  This  power  is  not  a  permanent 
gift,  for  as  food  must  be  taken  daily  to  obtain 
bodily  strength,  so  this  blessing  of  the  Spirit  must 
be  sought  hourly  by  communion  with  God.  "  Be 
thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a 
crown  of  life,"  says  Jesus.  "To  him  that  over- 
cometh"  are  the  seven  promises  given.  The  one 
great  petition  missionaries  offer  at  a  throne  of 
divine  grace  is  that  the  Holy  Spirit  may  be  poured 
out.  The  blessing  on  the  preached  word,  the 
quickening  of  the  dead  bones  on  Asia's  plains,  the 
sanctification  of  the  church,  all  comes  from  his 
divine  power.  He,  the  Sovereign  Spirit,  acts 
directly  on  the  sinner's  heart,  and  his  influence 
does  not  pass  through  the  minister  to  the  object, 
so  it  is  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  not 
man's  power,  that  brings  men  to  the  Saviour, 
yet  he  graciously  uses  men  as  instruments,  and 
bestows  his  gifts  upon  them  that  they  may  lead 


228  Pkeaching  in  Sinim. 

others  to  embrace  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  so  freely 
offered  in  the  gospel. 

O  Spirit  of  the  living  God, 

In  all  thy  plenitude  of  grace, 
Where'er  the  foot  of  man  hath  trod, 

Descend  on  our  apostate  race. 

Baptize  the  nations ;  far  and  nigh 

The  triumph  of  the  cross  record; 
The  name  of  Jesus  glorify. 

Till  every  kindred  call  him  Lord. 


CHAPTEK  XVL 

The  Wondeks  of  the  Last  Days. 

THE  Chinese  views  of  religion  are  surprisingly 
materialistic.  The  missionary  must  not  only 
teach  the  people  their  duties  to  God  and  their 
fellow-men ;  he  must  carry  them  beyond  the  con- 
fines of  the  grave  to  the  great  events  which  may 
be  near  at  hand.     One  prominent  topic  must  be 

The  Second  Coming  of  Our  Lord. 
Jesus  taught  the  doctrine  of  the  second  coming 
so  repeatedly  that  it  becomes  a  prominent  fea- 
ture of  the  New  Testament  theology.  "Watch, 
therefore,  for  ye  know  not  what  hour  your  Lord 
doth  come."  "Watch,  therefore,  for  ye  know 
neither  the  day  nor  the  hour  wherein  the  Son  of 
man  cometh."  "And  what  I  say  unto  you  I  say 
unto  all,  Watch."  Just  as  ancient  Israel's  greatest 
hope  was  "when  Messiah  cometh,"  so  the  pole 
star  of  the  Christian  is  "  looking  for  that  blessed 
hope  and  the  glorious  appearing  of  the  great 
God  and  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ."  As  the 
apostles  went  among  the  heathen  they  bade  them 
turn  "to  God  from  idols,  to  serve  the  living  and 

true  God,  and  to  await  for  his  Son  from  heaven." 
20  229 


230  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

Especially  the  disciples  at  Thessalonica  con- 
tinued in  "the  patient  waiting  for  Christ,"  and 
this  fact  gave  them  great  joy  and  rejoicing. 

The  Chinese  often  ask  ns,  "Have  yon  ever  seen 
Jesus?"  and  we  reply,  "No;  but  these  eyes  shall 
behold  him."  "For  I  know  that  my  Eedeemer 
liveth,  and  that  he  shall  stand  at  the  latter  day 
upon  the  earth."  Preaching  his  second  coming 
presents  the  living  Jesus  particularly  and  spe- 
cially before  the  minds  of  men.  The  hearers 
look  upon  what  is  preached  as  a  doctrine  which 
is  good,  as  a  creed  which  may  be  accepted  or 
rejected,  or  as  a  system  with  which  they  have 
no  special  concern.  In  presenting  his  future  ad- 
vent, we  have  the  living  Christ,  "  which  was 
dead  and  is  alive,"  the  reigning  Christ,  "who 
hath  on  his  vesture  and  on  his  thigh  a  name 
written,  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords,"  and 
the  personal  Christ,  who  will  appear  in  our 
sight.  The  words  of  the  Master,  so  oft  re- 
peated about  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  man^ 
must  be  oft  repeated  in  the  ears  of  the  men  of 
China. 

The  way  he  will  come  is  easily  understood.  As 
the  prophet  at  Babylon  said,  "  I  saw  in  the  night 
visions,  and,  behold,  one  Hke  the  Son  of  man  came 
with  the  clouds  of  heaven,"   so  when  on   Olive's 


The  Wondees  of  the  Last  Days.         231 

brow  "a  cloud  received  liim  out  of  the  sight"  of 
his  adoring  disciples,  the  two  angelic  messengers 
said,  ''This  same  Jesus,  which  is  taken  up  from 
you  into  heaven,  shall  so  come  in  Uke  manner  as 
ye  have  seen  him  go  into  heaven." 

The  quickness  of  his  appearing  Jesus  himself 
describes,  "  As  the  hghtning  cometh  out  of  the  east 
and  shineth  even  unto  the  west,  so  shall  also  the 
coming  of  the  Son  of  man  be."  It  will  be  pre- 
ceded by  a  time  of  great  wickedness,  when  "that 
wicked  shall  be  revealed,  whom  the  Lord  shall  con- 
sume with  the  Spirit  of  his  mouth,  and  shall  de- 
stroy with  the  brightness  of  his  coming,"  a  time  of 
sin,  even  as  the  period  preceding  the  flood,  and  like 
unto  the  days  of  the  cities  of  the  plain.  Nothing 
could  be  more  graphic  than  Christ's  own  words, 
"And  then  shall  appear  the  sign  of  the  Son  of 
man  in  heaven :  and  then  shall  all  the  tribes  of 
the  earth  mourn,  and  they  shall  see  the  Son  of 
man  coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven  with  power 
and  great  glory,"  "when  he  cometh  in  the  glory 
of  his  Father  with  the  holy  angels."  The  mis- 
sionary is  to  say  to  the  heathen,  "Jesus  is  coming! 
Prepare  to  meet  thy  God."  The  apostle  could 
preach  so  tenderly,  "If  any  man  love  not  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  let  him  be  anathema.  The 
Lord  cometh."     To  the  pagan  must  be  explained 


232  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

how  joyful  the  hope  that  fills  the   heart  of   the 
believer  in  view  of  this  glorious  event. 

The  Kesurrection. 

In  the  fifteenth  chapter  of  First  Corinthians,  the 
apostle  treats  of  the  resurrection  of  Christ  and  the 
resurrection  of  believers  in  the  same  passage. 
There  is  not  a  more  enchanting  picture  to  present 
to  the  heathen  than  the  rising  of  our  Lord  from 
the  dead.  The  night  scene  of  the  sepulchre  in  the 
rocky  mount:  the  body  laid  carefully  away,  the 
heavy  stone,  the  governor's  seal,  the  military 
guard,  the  sad  Sabbath ;  the  morning  scene :  the 
earthquake,  the  stone  rolled  away,  the  pious  wo- 
men with  their  sacred  gifts,  the  appearance  of  the 
angel,  the  words  "He  is  risen,"  the  weeping  of 
Mary,  the  meeting  mth  her  Lord,  the  message  to 
the  disciples,  the  joy  of  the  believers,  the  wild  ex- 
citement at  Jerusalem.  "What  more  dramatic  de- 
scriptions than  those  of  the  meetings  with  the  dis- 
ciples, the  walk  to  Emmaus,  the  benediction  of 
peace,  the  assurance  to  Thomas,  the  seaside  love- 
feast,  and  the  five  hundred  assembled  upon  a 
Gahlean  mount?  When  the  apostles  stood  before 
kings,  their  testimony  was  that  Christ  rose  from 
the  dead.  In  the  presence  of  heathen  congrega- 
tions they  preached  Jesus  and  the  resurrection. 


The  Wonders  of  the  Last  Days.  233 

They  had  known  ''  the  power  of  his  resurrection," 
and  they  made  it  a  power  in  all  their  ministry.  If 
missionaries  become  a  power  in  China,  it  will  be 
because  they  preach  that  Jesus  is  risen,  in  a  land 
of  idols  who  once  were  hving  men,  but  now  sleep 
in  the  silence  of  the  tomb.  We  can  point  to  the 
empty  sepulchre  and  cry,  "Behold  where  they  laid 
him." 

Jesus  "became  the  first  fruits  of  them  that 
slept."  When  Paul  preached  his  powerful  sermon 
at  Athens,  men  hstened  with  rapt  attention  while 
he  discoursed  upon  idols  and  the  worship  of  the 
Creator;  but  when  "they  heard  of  the  resuiTection 
from  the  dead,  some  mocked."  There  is  a  similar 
experience  with  the  Chinese,  for,  no  matter  how 
solemn  is  the  appeal,  when  this  subject  is  men- 
tioned the  people  invariably  laugh.  To  them  the 
idea  is  so  weird  and  romantic  that  it  sounds  like 
the  most  extravagant  fairy  story.  So  dense  is  the 
population,  changing  every  thirty  years,  the  grave 
mounds  leveled  by  the  hand  of  time  to  become  the 
resting-places  of  another  retiring  generation,  the 
hillsides  and  the  plains  filled  with  graves,  that 
China  has  been  termed  "one  vast  graveyard."  It 
is  a  city  of  the  dead.  That  all  who  sleep  in  the 
graves  shaU  arise,  and  that  the  sea  shall  give  up 
the  dead  who  are  in  it,  seems  impossible !     It  is  a 


234  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

wonderful  doctrine  to  the  pagan ;  there  is  nothing 
like  it  in  heathen  literatm-e.  It  cuts  away  the 
flimsy  hopes  of  transmigration,  and  makes  void, 
even  to  this  ancestor- adoring  people,  the  idola- 
trous ceremonies  after  death. 

In  the  Apostles'  Creed  this  is  placed  as  a  funda- 
mental truth  which  must  be  accepted  by  every  one 
who  professes  faith  in  Christ.  It  must  be  fre- 
quently and  fearlessly  proclaimed.  It  awakes  the 
nation  from  the  dread  sleep  of  superstition  and 
death  to  hear  the  voice  of  the  archangel  and  the 
trump  of  God,  and  to  realize  that  there  shall  be 
"a  resurrection  of  the  dead,  both  of  the  just  and 
the  unjust";  "they  that  have  done  good,  unto  the 
resurrection  of  life ;  and  they  that  have  done  evil, 
unto  the  resurrection  of  damnation."  Oh !  the  sor- 
row of  those  who  "awake  to  shame  and  everlast- 
ing contempt,"  and  the  blessedness  of  the  right- 
eous who  put  on  incorruption  and  immortaUty! 

The  Scriptures  (Matt.  xxiv.  3,  29-31 ;  1  Thess.  iv. 
15-17;  2  Thess.  i.  7-10;  Eev.  xx.  11-13,  and  other 
places)  seem  to  connect  with  the  two  great  events 
mentioned  above 

The  Judgment  Day. 
The  types  of  the  judgment  in  natural  rehgion 
are  abundant,  for  here  the   Gentiles  "shew   the 


The  Wonders  of  the  Last  Days.         235 

work  of  the  law  written  in  their  hearts."  They 
consider  that  all  men  go  before  the  king  of  Tarta- 
rus to  receive  their  just  reward,  so  there  is  "a, 
fearful  looking  for  of  judgment."  The  ancient 
custom  of  settling  accounts  on  the  last  night  of 
the  year,  and  the  pursuit  of  the  luckless  debtor  till 
the  day  dawns,  tells  of  a  day  of  final  accounts. 
The  large  abacus  in  the  temple  reminds  the  people 
that  good  and  evil  are  to  be  summed  up  at  last. 
No  human  tongue  can  depict  the  scenes  of  the  last 
day,  when  the  great  assembly  of  men  of  all  ages, 
all  nations,  all  races,  all  conditions,  all  tongues, 
meet  and  stand  before  the  Son  of  man,  to  whom  is 
committed  all  judgment;  for  "we  must  all  appear 
before  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ."  The  particu- 
larity of  the  day  of  assizes,  when  each  individual 
shall  appear,  the  universality  of  the  tribunal,  when 
every  act  shall  be  judged,  the  transparency  of  the 
decisions,  when  secret  things  shall  be  made  mani- 
fest, the  separation  of  the  sheep  from  the  goats, 
make  the  heathen  tremble  as  they  view  the  day 
for  which  all  other  days  were  made.  They  have  a 
symbol  of  its  terrors  in  the  Great  Bore  in  Hang- 
chow  Bay  on  the  18th  of  the  eighth  moon,  when 
the  white  line  in  the  dim  distance  is  soon  seen  to 
be  an  advancing  wall  of  water,  maddened  in  its 
wild  fury  as  it  rushes  impetuously  forward,  roaring 


236  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

as  if  the  elements  were  dissolved,  gurgling  and 
foaming  in  whirlpools  and  eddies  as  it  comes 
thundering  along,  when,  lo!  a  mountain  billow, 
driven  by  the  opposing  shore,  comes  rolHng 
athwart  the  advancing  wave,  and  the  two,  uniting, 
rush  by  the  spectator,  who  stands  in  awe  at  the 
magnificent  spectacle!  But  what  is  this  to  the 
truths  revealed  to  us  concerning  the  Judgment 
Day,  when  men  shall  cry  "to  the  mountains  and 
rocks.  Fall  on  us,  and  hide  us  from  the  face  of 
him  that  sitteth  on  the  throne,  and  from  the  wrath 
of  the  Lamb ;  for  the  great  day  of  his  wrath  is 
come"?  Then  men  shall  see  "a  new  heaven  and 
a  new  earth,  for  the  first  heaven  and  the  first 
earth,"  which  idolatrous  China  so  long  wor- 
shipped, will  have  "passed  away." 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

The  Reaper  and  His  Rewards. 

THERE  is  no  doctrine  so  incomprehensible  to 
the  Christian  as  that  of  rewards;  it  is  one  of 
the  mysteries  of  redemption.  The  believer  feels 
that  the  pardon  of  sin  and  admittance  to  heaven  is 
enough,  and  that  it  is  wondrous  grace  bestowed 
upon  sinful  man  which  secures  to  him  such  bene- 
fits as  these.  But  that  the  Master  will  reward  each 
act  performed  in  his  name  and  for  his  sake  is 
what  the  believer  cannot  understand.  Christ  tells 
of  the  surprise  of  the  righteous:  "Lord,  when  saw 
we  thee  an  hungered,  and  fed  thee  ?  or  thirsty,  and 
gave  thee  drink  ?  When  saw  we  thee  a  stranger, 
and  took  thee  in  ?  or  naked,  and  clothed  thee  ? 
Or  when  saw  we  thee  sick,  or  in  prison,  and  came 
unto  thee  ?  "  Though  it  seems  too  good  to  be  true, 
yet  it  is  a  fact,  that  those  on  the  right  hand  shall 
hear  the  King  saying,  ''Come,  ye  blessed  of  my 
Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from 
the  foundation  of  the  world." 

In  the  parable,  to  the  one  whose  pound  gained 
ten,  the  nobleman  said,  "Well,  thou  good  servant, 

because  thou  hast  been  faithful  in  a  very  little, 

237 


238  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

have  thou  authority  over  ten  cities";  and  in  the 
parable  of  the  talents,  "His  lord  said  unto  him, 
Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servant:  thou 
hast  been  faithful  over  a  few  things,  I  will  make 
thee  ruler  over  many  things :  enter  thou  into  the 
joy  of  thy  lord."  The  rule  of  awards  is,  "For  unto 
every  one  that  hath  shall  be  given,  and  he  shall 
have  abundance."  In  another  parable  it  is  said, 
"So,  when  even  was  come,  the  lord  of  the  vineyard 
saith  unto  his  steward,  Call  the  laborers,  and  give 
them  their  hire." 

Christ  gives  a  special  promise  of  temporal  bless- 
ings, and  there  is  no  one  who  has  obeyed  his  part- 
ing command  who  cannot  testify,  "He  is  faithful 
that  promised."  "And  Jesus  answered  and  said, 
Verily  I  say  unto  you.  There  is  no  man  that  hath 
left  house,  or  brethren,  or  sisters,  or  father,  or 
mother,  or  wife,  or  children,  or  lands,  for  my  sake 
and  the  gospel's,  but  he  shall  receive  an  hundred- 
fold now  in  this  time"  (a  special  enumeration  in 
the  plural  number),  "houses,  and  brethren,  and 
sisters,  and  mothers,  and  children,  and  lands,  "vvith 
persecutions,  and  in  the  world  to  come  eternal  life." 

After  the  Saviour  had  preached  to  the  Samari- 
tan woman,  his  disciples  returned  with  the  pur- 
chased food,  and  he,  sitting  beside  the  well,  in 
view  of  Mount  Ebal  and  Mount  Gerizim,  said  to 


The  Eeaper  and  His  Kewards.  239 

them,  "  Say  not  ye,  There  are  yet  four  months,  and 
then  cometh  harvest?"  (a  long  time  before  China 
is  converted),  "behold,  I  say  unto  you,  Lift  up 
your  eyes,  and  look  on  the  fields ;  for  they  are 
white  already  to  harvest.  And  he  that  reapeth 
receiveth  wages,  and  gathereth  fruit  unto  life  eter- 
nal: that  both  he  that  soweth  and  he  that  reapeth 
may  rejoice  togethei;"  that  is,  there  is  as  much 
joy  in  sowing  as  in  reaping.  The  Master  contin- 
ued his  discourse :  "And  herein  is  that  saying  true, 
One  soweth,  and  another  reapeth.  I  sent  you  to 
reap  that  whereon  ye  bestowed  no  labor :  other 
men  labored,  and  ye  are  entered  into  their  labors." 
Prophets  and  kings  had  labored  with  the  Jews. 
These  words  were  not  spoken  to  missionaries  to 
the  heathen,  for  those  who  perform  the  work  of 
preparation,  as  David  did  for  Solomon's  temple, 
have  not  gone  before  them. 

Jsaiah  said,  "Blessed  are  ye  that  sow  beside  all 
waters."  David  sang,  "They  that  sow  in  tears 
shall  reap  in  joy.  He  that  goeth  forth  and  weep- 
eth,  bearing  precious  seed,  shall  doubtless  come 
again  with  rejoicing,  bringing  his  ^sheaves  with 
him."  Paul  wrote,  "He  which  soweth  bounti- 
fully shall  reap  also  bountifully";  "He  that  sow- 
eth to  the  Spirit  shall  of  the  Spirit  reap  life  ever- 
lasting.    And  let  us  not  be  weary  in  well-doing : 


240  Preaching  in  Sinim. 

for  in  due  season  we  shall  reap,  if  we  faint  not." 
In  a  fruitful  year  the  Chinese  plant  one  grain  of 
rice,  and  at  the  harvest  there  are  on  the  one  head 
one  hundred  grains;  so  the  spiritual  harvest  will 
be  thirty,  sixty,  and  one  hundred-fold. 

The  sower  is  the  preacher:  "And  I  saw  another 
angel  fly  in  the  midst  of  heaven,  ha^dng  the  ever- 
lasting gospel  to  preach  to  them  that  dwell  on 
the  earth,  and  to  every  nation,  and  kindi'ed,  and 
tongue,  and  people."  "And  this  gospel  of  the 
kingdom  shall  be  preached  in  all  the  world,  for  a 
witness  unto  all  nations."  And  with  what  result? 
"Many  shall  run  to  and  fro,  and  knowledge  shall 
be  increased."  "And  they  shall  teach  no  more 
every  man  his  neighbor,  and  every  man  his  bro- 
ther, saying.  Know  the  Lord :  for  they  shall  all 
know  me,  from  the  least  of  them  unto  the  greatest 
of  them,  saith  the  Lord."  "For  the  earth  shall  be 
full  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  as 
the  waters  cover  the  sea."  Besides  the  many  pro- 
phecies about  the  kingdom  to  cheer  the  church,  in 
her  arduous  labors  in  China  a  special  promise  is 
given:  "Behold,  these  shall  come  from  far:  and, 
lo!  these  from  the  north  and  from  the  west;  and 
these  from  the  land  of  Sinim." 

In  view  of  the  advent  of  Messiah,  the  prophet 
■exclaimed,  "Behold,  his  reward  is  with  him";  and 


The  Eeaper  and  His  Rewards.  241 

from  heaven  his  own  voice  was  heard,  ''Behold,  I 
come  quickly,  and  my  reward  is  with  me."  If 
Christ  does  not  forget  the  handing  of  a  cup  of  cold 
water  to  a  disciple,  and  will  in  no  wise  let  the 
giver  lose  his  reward,  how  much  more  will  he  re- 
member those  who  bring  the  water  of  life  to  the 
multitudes  who  perish  with  thirst!  The  Master 
told  his  disciples  of  the  great  value  of  one  soul. 
The  apostle  to  the  Gentiles  said,  "I  am  made  all 
things  to  all  men,  that  I  might  by  all  means  save 
some."  James  closes  his  epistle  with  this  cheering 
exhortation:  "Let  him  know,  that  he  which  con- 
verteth  the  sinner  from  the  error  of  his  way  shall 
save  a  soul  from  death,  and  shall  hide  a  multitude 
of  sins."  Ministers  are  stars  in  the  right  hand  of 
him  who  walks  in  the  midst  of  the  golden  candle- 
sticks; and  in  the  resurrection  "one  star  differeth 
from  another  star  in  glory,"  but  all  shine  brightly. 
The  prophet  said,  "  They  that  be  wise  shall  shine 
as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament ;  and  they  that 
turn  many  to  righteousness,  as  the  stars,  for  ever 
and  ever."  Therefore,  the  laborer  may  feel  as- 
sured of  the  "crown  of  righteousness"  laid  up  for 
him  in  heaven,  and  at  "that  day"  to  be  placed  on 
his  head ;  and  that  it  will  be  granted  to  him  to  sit 
with  Jesus  on  his  throne,  even  as  he  also  over- 
came, and  is  set  down  with  his  Father  on  his  throne. 


